Thread: Engine Temp Issue

Ok so it all started with a ses light P0128(thermostat), so first i replaced the ect sensor and that made no change. Then i replaced the thermostat, had alot of trouble bleeding it but i think i got it now. After bleeding it for what seemed like hours, it wouldnt build up pressure, so i was thinking about replacing the rad cap since there cheap, but i waited and continued trying to bleed it. So now i think i got it bled and the hoes's have pressure, but the problem is with the temp gauge on the dash.
It reads up to like what looks like 210-215, but it goes up and down like it should as if the thermostat is working. Just now i hooked my scanner up to the car and watched the ect graph and it never got to 210. 207 was it highest it got to and then it went back down to 204-203. The thermostat i put in is a 195 so it shouldnt get up to 210 right?
I also think that my cooling fans dont work because they never come on, so thats something else i had to look into. But idk if its related to this problem or not.
I dont know what else to do, i just cleared the ses light since unhooking the battery for an hour did nothing. So idk if the thermostat is working and everything is fine or something else is wrong.

My next step would be to vacuum bleed it and pressure test it but it not leaking that i can see, and if all that checks out then i would be looking into replacing the rad cap and water pump. Im hoping that someone is just gonna say that those numbers are fine and that im worrying about nothing, but the trouble ive had with this car lately im just expecting the worse

This a 3.1?

Your temps are decently close. Not all 195's are wide open at 195. A couple degrees over is reasonable. On the fans, you do realize the stock settings on all the car's I've checked were 212-216F for the low speed to come on and about 228F for high speed. Doesn't sound like it's hot enough for the fans to come on

PS, your dash gauge now reads differently because you swapped the sensor.

yes a 3100
no i have no clue as to what temp the fans come on at, but dont the low speed come on with the a/c? mine doesnt

is there a way to fix the gauge? or is it stuck

It's a guage, aka a general idea of what the temp is. It's not considered an accurate or calibrated item.

Fans should come on with defrost. Likely your AC isn't going to come on this time of year.

Yes, I traveled through your state recently. It was freakin cold.

so there not suppost to come on with the a/c? ive turning the a/c on to turn the fans on to cool the motor when i thought it was bout to overheat, but the fans never came on. i havnt tryed the defrost yet

There is a level at which the AC won't come on because it's to cold out. Defrost will always kick on though.

so i just drove it and this what it got up to on the gauge, i dont think it really got that hot but this is what is says.
sorry for the crapy pic


it got up that high then went down to the 210 mark
no check engine light "knock on wood"

Ok, so it likely didn't even turn the fans on.

If all else fails, remember it's a 3.1 and I hate it. We can blame it on 3.1

no its a 3100 not a 3.1 theres a difference

Three point dumb or thirty dumb hundred... IMO they both can rot in the JY

If a 3100 is not a 3.1 then why did you post this in the 3.1 section?

the 3100 code is the LG8

I realize there is a difference. I just dislike both equally.

and if you want to get technical, theres 2 different versions of the 3100 also but thats beside the point. my version is the only one i like

Now back on point should be worrying about this or just put tape over the temp gauge and not worry about

I'm not seeing the problem when the fans don't kick on until that temp. Is that a spike or the norm now?

normal now, heats up faster now. but idk if the ses will stay off yet
i was thinking about getting a gm ect sensor and putting it in since there cheap and see if that makes it read different

Maybe your stat is not opening fully.