about to take a hammer to my car!!!

[krsdadsps]

okay I have a 98 gp with a 3.8 n/a. first thing is my belt, the tensner pully was warped (plastic) and watching the belt on it. it wiggled left to right I changed the whole assembly and it has a metal pully. changed the belt and alternator today and noticed its still doing that. is this normal or what should I look into? and my car was running cool but I had a 180 thermostat. today I also put in a 195 thermostat, I have a new acdelco temp sensor. ive tested it and its good, and it takes about 45min of idle to get to 210. also for you guys that don't know I have a new lim gasket, and upper intake. im getting puzzled

[FordMan77]

Did you bleed the cooling system properly after messing with all that?

How much wiggle on the belt? Shouldn't be much at all if it's tracking straight. Are you sure that all the ribs of the belt are lined up with the other pullies?

[krsdadsps]

yeah the ribs are lined up no play at all. and for bleeding i waited until it had a strong stream and let it flow out like that for one minute. then drove it. topped it off again and double checked and still had a strong stream.

[Scottydoggs]

210 is normal temps for 195 t stat.

[krsdadsps]

but it takes forever to get to 210 like 45 minutes of idling. it says in between 0 and 210 at all times when driving

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Coolant flush, rad flush and new water pump are all thats left.

Read the real temp with a scan tool, I don't trust the dash gauge. If the scan tool shows a stead rise in coolant temps over a 10 min period, then everything should be okay.


It takes 10-15 min when it's 20-30º outside here to reach 195 when I just let it warm up. Takes way less time when above 50º.


Or just burn the car, and stop complaining.

[Slick2500]

Or trade it in for something else.

[krsdadsps]

just burn the car, and stop complaining.[/QUOTE] im not complaining im stummped and trying to figure it out. and my wife told me if I trade the car she is leaving. I went thru 14 cars last year so I gotta hold this one. in 6 years ive owned 52 cars and need to hold on to one.

[Slick2500]

14 cars dafuq?

[krsdadsps]

yeah I have a craigslist problem lol. I have a habit of typing trade in the search. and be like oh I like that you wanna trade haha. ive tried to trade the gp but once I say grand prix there like oooh noooo. so much hate for the gp's but I honesty love the old turd

[stealthee]

Just idling it is going to take a long time to reach operating temperature. The engine doesn't work as hard at idle therefor it doesn't generate as much heat as if you were driving.

[krsdadsps]

the reason I let it idle is because when I drive it will not rise to 210 no matter what

[ItHurtz]

so what?

[16MustangVet]

May I suggest you buy an air cooled VW bug..........

[krsdadsps]

so what?

the reason I care is I drive over 600 miles a week, I cant afford for this car to break down or im ****ed. so I try to make sure everything is took care of. last time it broke down I spent 9 hours walking to get parts. that's my so what......

[krsdadsps]

May I suggest you buy an air cooled VW bug..........

lol hell with a vw haha I know it may sound like a stupid question I asked but I try to keep the car top notch from all the driving I do

[ItHurtz]

so we all understand, your COMPLAINING your car DOESNT get to 210............. **** I am in deep **** because mine opens at 185 then settles at high 170's in the winter....

[hensleya1]

im not complaining im stummped and trying to figure it out. and my wife told me if I trade the car she is leaving. I went thru 14 cars last year so I gotta hold this one. in 6 years ive owned 52 cars and need to hold on to one.

I think you take the cake... You buy more used cars than anyone... including me. LOL

[blueguy]

last time it broke down I spent 9 hours walking to get parts. that's my so what......

Before suggesting anything like a VW or the like, I suggest a cellular telephone to make a call to a friend or a tow truck.

They are pretty new, so I'd look into them.

[stealthee]

So you are complaining that the car isn't getting hot enough? Does the car have good heat when the temp stops rising? If so then drive it and forget about it.