Well after installing the new Autometer water temp gauge, I was looking forward to getting some accurate water temps. However what the gauge shows is not good.

Temp Levels:

Freeway (70mph): 205°
City Driving (stop & go): 215-220°
Backroads (constant 35mph): 210°
Dead Stop Idle: 235°-240°!!!
Stock Gauge: 208° all the time
Outside Temp: 93°


I refilled the coolant a couple weeks ago and have checked it after every drive, about five times. I even added some of that Water Wetter stuff. At idle, I dont think I hear the fans on. Hopefully wiring up the gauges didn't mess up some other wires.

Is there any way I can find out what's going on? Thanks!

 

Some questions
What thermo do you have?
Have you programmed the fans on sooner?
Where did you install the sending unit?

If the sending unit is in the head and you have the stock thermostat with the fans set at the factory settings the temps that you are seeing at 93° ambient are right where ther should be. That's why GM made the guages read only one temp within it's range. So we wouldn't freak when the temps shoot up.

180° stat and some programming will help.

 

........thats head gasket killing range.....

 

........great....

It has the stock thermo, stock programming, and the sender is above the starter. Someone who has the same gauge in the same location sees about 190° in the hot Texas summer.

But I'm still curious why I didn't hear any fans. If I let the car idle, in this temp, should the fans theoretically come on? Are they audible?

 

Update: I started the car and let it heat up to see if the fans turn on. The water temp gauge got up to 230° and the fans never turned on. The water pump appears to be working, the coolant lines got pretty hot real quick, and some pressure developed in them. I also noticed an SES light, which I think is from my ported !MAF ends. I disconnected the battery and I'll hook it back up and see what happens.

Another thing came to my mind. What if the fuses are bad? They actually look like circuit breakers, they are the grey box things that are like 1" x 1" in the fuse box. Could these be bad? Are they fuses, or breakers. If the latter do they need to be reset manually?

Thanks