A couple weeks ago I put in a EWP, and this when it all started. My car stays cool as long as I move with the air coming in, but as soon as I stopped it got hot. Fans would never engage, and it was always hard to start after it was warm.

Yesterday I changed out the temp sensor in the waterpump to see if this would fix the problem. It fixed the hard starting when hot, but it isn't helping with the fan issue. Now I know all the connections are good because after I changed the sensor and started the car the SES light came on for a minute and the fans ran while it was on. After refilling and bleeding the air out of the system I started the car and let sit, and once again the temp just climbs and climbs and the fans never kick on.

What else could this problem be? Should I check the temp sensor in the head too?

 

The temp climbs to what? Stock fans don't come on until 226°. The temp can be watched with a scanner and see if the fans are commanded on. The temp can also be compared to the gauge to see if they are close to the same reading.

 

I have never checked it on a scanner, but the meter will go up 3/4 of the way. After that I figure it's past the point where the fans should turn on, and kill the engine.

I guess I could just carry around a wire and jump the fans on whenever I need them....

 

Look into the Jet fan switch, Summit has them.

 

I had my own switch wired up for awhile, but it would only work when the car was off. Does the Jet switch control them with the car on or off?

 

Depending on the accuracy of the gauge, you may have no problem at all.

 

Since the SES light was on, why don't you find out why? Might point you in the right direction. It would have set the code for the disconnected coolant temp sensor only if you turned the key on while it was disconnected. The SES light doesn't come on just because you changed a component.

Check the temp sensor in the head for accuracy.... that might explain why your "meter" (gauge) is showing high temp.

 

The SES light ins't on anymore. It was on intially when I restarted the car after changing the sensor, but I figured thatwas due to the fact there was hardly any coolant in the car. I had gotten some coolant on the opti in the process of changing, so i wanted to make sure everything was good to go.

Once I bled/filled the cooling system the SES light went away. I just happened to notice that during the time the car was running SES light on that the fans were running.

 

The coolant level switch does not interface with the PCM and will not cause the SES light. Already indicated it doesn't come on because you changed the coolant sensor. Your missing out on an opportunity to possibly find the problem, by not checking for codes. But that's up to you.