Thread: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed.

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  1. #1 Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    SE Level Member Wakingcrow's Avatar
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    OK here's the sitch:
    Fans don't turn on until like 240F or whatever and I read that's by design, but in my opinion that temp is way too high, especially in a car that the AC doesn't work (different story: replaced condenser and compressor from junk yard and still has slow leak that I can't find, whatever.) So I have to jumper the fan relay whenever I drive more than 15 minutes, because it's summer. Then I have to pull the jumper every time I park because the fans kill the battery rapidly. It's a lot of hood opening and close to needing to replace the hood strut at this point. See the chain reaction?
    So here's the question:
    Is there an aftermarket temp sensor that will close the relay at a much lower temp? Or another known workaround.
    Thanks.
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  2. #2 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    a tune could turn the fans on sooner, and thats about it for the fans turning on and off.

    other then a in cab switch, new relays to the fans and new wiring. in other words your bypassing the cars system and running the fans off the switch only. there are also temp sensors to control the fans with your new switch. they have a on temp and off temp.

    before you dive in and spend money on this, plug in a obd2 scanner that does lave data, read the temp there, the cluster is not accurate really.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  3. #3 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Turbo is the way to go. Fivefingerdeathpunch's Avatar
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    I don't want to correct you like this but I am going too.

    240º is not anywhere close to the fan turn on temps. If we want to get technical with real data the values are 212º low speed and 226º high speed. These are based on the 97-03 body style, the 2004-2008 cars are almost the exact same, within a few degrees of each other.

    As said, hook up a scan tool and watch what that says. The cluster may be reading way different than the computer. If that is the case I'd break down a purchase a new OEM temp sensor, install a new thremostat at the same time and bleed the cooling system. Then see where you stand with the problem.

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  4. #4 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
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    even if the AC isnt pumping cold air, wouldnt the fans kick on with the AC on?
    08 grand prix NA3800
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  5. #5 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomsteve View Post
    even if the AC isnt pumping cold air, wouldnt the fans kick on with the AC on?
    nope.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  6. #6 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    SE Level Member Wakingcrow's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomsteve View Post
    even if the AC isnt pumping cold air, wouldnt the fans kick on with the AC on?
    Negative ghostrider. If the compressor doesn't activate due to low pressure switch not having enough reading, then the fans don't come on when you press the AC button, which essentially is useless if the AC doesn't have pressure.
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  7. #7 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    SE Level Member Wakingcrow's Avatar
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    Well I'm not going to redo the entire cooling system because I already do that and have been replacing the tstat and coolant every year so those aren't the problem. I replaced the temp sensor once as well but that was a couple years ago. So you're saying the OBD scanner will read a temp different than what the temp sensor tells it? If so then where does it get this alternate temp?
    Thanks.
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  8. #8 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    SE Level Member Wakingcrow's Avatar
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    What does this mean? "a tune could turn the fans on sooner"
    I was thinking about rigging a switch in the cab as mentioned but hoping I could just get them to turn on automatically when they're supposed to instead of letting it get to the point where the trans then gets up to 220 and the trans oil breaks down. again.
    Thanks.

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  9. #9 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Donating Users bandook's Avatar
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    Do you have any signs of overheating other than the dumb factory gauge?
    Top Swapped 01 Imp
    VS (very small?) cam, SD Headers, 2.8" pulley, 29°, ported everything, E85, AEM water/meth, Deka 60's, HPT tuned
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  10. #10 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    SE Level Member Wakingcrow's Avatar
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    Other than the dumb factory gauge which I'd also like to replace with something accurate, I've blew 2 new heater hoses in 2 years before I started jumping the relay, and I also cooked a steak on top of the supercharger, in a pan of course, in less than 10 minutes.
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  11. #11 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    tune is just that, a tuned pcm. zzp sells em ala canned tune.

    you can have then set to turn on at 195. or lower. and i cant see your temps for on being over 225 at max. some are that high, most are a bit lower. 212, 218. ive seen a lot of stock temps in the stock pcm tunes.

    for real tho. read the temp off the obd2 port, the cluster always looks hotter then it is. and fying stuff on a blower, they get hot all on their own. its what they do. why its called a heaton. it a m90 eaton sc. heaton means it makes its own heat.

    if you unplug the temp sensor both fans should turn on full speed. temp sensor has two read outs, one sent to the pcm, the other to the dash. these sensors do fail.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  12. #12 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    SE Level Member Wakingcrow's Avatar
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    Alright thanks for the info. I'll look into tuning the PCM, that sounds like a fun new endeavor. A sensor swap would be easier but I guess they don't make one.
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  13. #13 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    yor rad could also be clogged up. and for the record the 3800 runs hot. they all do.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  14. #14 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    Donating Users bandook's Avatar
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    You could install a radiator from an 04+gtp. One inch thick, I think stock is 5/8". That with a 180 thermostat my temp hits 190 when I beat on it but drops back to 180 quick. I'd probably try flushing your radiator first like Scotty said. Something is not right if you are blowing hoses like you said.
    Top Swapped 01 Imp
    VS (very small?) cam, SD Headers, 2.8" pulley, 29°, ported everything, E85, AEM water/meth, Deka 60's, HPT tuned
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  15. #15 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
    GTP Level Member CHI2000GTP's Avatar
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    You could install a manual fan switch using this kit from Caspers. Never heard of anyone installing this so I don't know, but looks and sounds legit.

    Link: Hi Speed Fan KIT GTP/GS 1997/2002
    2000 GTP 4DR - Stock
    243,000 miles
    CHICAGO, IL
    My Car: http://www.grandprixforums.com/members-rides/103740-lukes-gtp.html#post1443981
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  16. #16 Re: Lower temp engine temp sensor needed. 
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    Caspers Hi-Speed Fan Kits work great and are well made. I have installed several on Regals. You can install a relay in parallel with the manual switch and activate the relay with a thermal switch. Use the thermal switch to supply a ground to the relay and find an ignition on hot wire to provide a positive source to the relay. To tap in to the wires going to manual switch, fold the wire in half and burn the insulation off, twist the bare wire and solder to the correct wire going to the relay. Don't forget to put a piece of loose heat shrink on the wire before soldering. I install a Honda K swap hose adapter in the upper radiator hose and use a late 90's Honda Civic style thermal fan switch. Mounting the manual fan switch under hood makes for an easy way to test the fan motors periodically to make sure they are working ok and aren't too loud. This set up works well with a 180 stat, I don't think it would work with a 195. These Civic fan switches make at ~ 200F.
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