1994 Camaro Z28

So ive been trying to figure out exactly whats wrong with my car. For the past 2 years now ive been trying to figure this out. I havent replaced anything but my thermostat and radiator cap. Heres whats going on..

It first started two years ago when i was at the Woodward Cruise (car cruise in michigan). It was bumper to bumper and hotter then hell out. My temp gauge never got in the red but it was HOT. When i parked i noticed coolant from the bottom of my car. I opened my hood and coolant was spooling from the coolant over flow tube. I didnt think much of it since it was hot a bumper to bumper. My next in counter with it was when i was at a drive-through and it actually got in the red and coolant was spooling out of the tube again. Now everytime its hot out and theres traffic my car will creep up to the red and always spooling coolant out. It helps alot when i turn my AC on. I would say my car has overheated now about 5 times, not counting the times it would have if i didnt turn the AC on. WHATS MY PROBLEM!?! I was told to take my radiator cap of with my car running but im not sure what to look for. My coolant just sits there?? It doesnt move, is that normal? HELP PLEASE!!

 

That's weird that turning ON the a/c would cool it down. You should see some movement of the coolant in the radiator. I would say to power flush the cooling system. If you did the themostat and the cap there's not to much that can be wrong except blockage somewhere.

 

Not weird at all. Turning on the a/c makes the fans come on. I would investigate whether the fans are coming on by the temperature threshold (226°).

Cooling system info

 

That's a interesting link,thanks for that. I'm still not used to computer operated cars. I'm still living in the 60's and early 70's. To me it makes sense that turning on the a/c puts more stress on the system,but turning on the heat helps dissipates the heat from the engine. So I'm slow,so sue me.

 

Modern cars with electric fans are a little different, that's all. There is no air flow unless you are moving forward or the fans are on. The a/c commands the fans on, so it can work efficiently.

 

I had issues and after switching to the 160 degree thermostat, they have all but gone completely away. I used the Hypertech programmer to change the computer for a while and then went with a mail order tune after my upgrades were more than the hand held device could help me with. It allowed my fans to come on correctly with the different thermostat. I was looking at the switch that allow you to turn the fans on manually. I think SLP makes it and since my problem went away, I never ordered one.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SLE-63011/

 

Why not buy a fan switch so you can manually turn your fans on the high setting when your engine temperature gets real hot.

 

Check the front side of the radiator for debris. Leaves, plastic bags, road trash, etc. can get stuck up there and inhibit the flow of air across the radiator.

 

I ran my car on a fan switch that way you can no for sure your car wont over heat.

 

As shoebox suggested, make sure the fans are coming on. I had the same problem on my '96 V6 Camaro many years ago and it turned out to be a bad relay. You can even swap the relay with the fog light relay to try it out if my memory serves.

 

Fan switches are a bandaid. Find the problem, don't treat the symptom.

 

[QUOTE=mrmint69;6862113]I had issues and after switching to the 160 degree thermostat, they have all but gone completely away. I used the Hypertech programmer to change the computer for a while and then went with a mail order tune after my upgrades were more than the hand held device could help me with. It allowed my fans to come on correctly with the different thermostat. I was looking at the switch that allow you to turn the fans on manually. I think SLP makes it and since my problem went away, I never ordered one.

Yeah thats what i did. I just bought a switch this December but havent installed it yet since its stored. I also was about to get a Hypertech but after reading many things about it i heard it was junk.. And im going to do exactly what you did, a mail order tune from PCMFORLESS.com.. Hopefully that'll do the trick. I just ordered a 160 thermostat. Just still confused on why it over heats

Thats what im saying too. I did get a switch but like you said its just covering up the problem not fixing it.

Im just going to have to check hose's and such. Does anyone know forsure what the coolant should be doing when i run it with the cap off? Should it be moving or just staying still?

 

also im going to check my relays. Hopefully thats all it is. It doesnt sound like a bad water pump to anyone does it?

 

No,when the water pump goes it makes all kinds of noise. You would know it if it was.

 

I would pull the water pump and give it all a look. It could be a stripped water pump drive giving you all those issues. When I did my cam I found the drive coupler had no teeth left on the motor side but was still cooling fine. If I hadn’t found it when I did, there would have been issues very soon!

Good luck on you search