It drove fine, but when just sitting there idling the temp gauge would rise and it got about 3/4's the way up and the dealer was like well turn on the a/c and the fans will kick on and cool it down.. Idid and the fans did kick on and the temp dropped, but my cars temp gauge never gets that high, not even halfway.
Auto questin..tempature gauge gets too high when the vehicle just sits
- Thread starter michaels
- Start date
Also the a/c was messed up and he said it was because of the condenser or compressor. he showed me up front by the radiator and it looked like coolant had leaked, not recently though as it was dry. Oh and this is a vehicle I may be buying.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
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If the temp dropped when the fans came on, the radiator's fine.
What probably happening is that the thermoswitch in the car's radiator isn't triggering the fans to come on automatically. It's a simple fix.
ZV
What probably happening is that the thermoswitch in the car's radiator isn't triggering the fans to come on automatically. It's a simple fix.
ZV
CrackRabbit
Lifer
- Mar 30, 2001
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before you recharge the AC, find out why it leaked. Those are closed loop systems, and should be good for a dang long time.
As far as the cooling, it's a tough call. Most of the time, it's not too hard (flush and fill, maybe a new 'stat, which is a couple of bolts and $20) but can be expensive. Check the oil closely to see if it's contaminated, and same for the coolant (don't just look in the overflow tank, pull the cap). My truck gets hotter then it should simply because it's missing the fan shrouds (or so I hope, I've flushed, and changed the stat)
As far as the cooling, it's a tough call. Most of the time, it's not too hard (flush and fill, maybe a new 'stat, which is a couple of bolts and $20) but can be expensive. Check the oil closely to see if it's contaminated, and same for the coolant (don't just look in the overflow tank, pull the cap). My truck gets hotter then it should simply because it's missing the fan shrouds (or so I hope, I've flushed, and changed the stat)
Zenmervolt
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- Oct 22, 2000
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Repairing the A/C if the system has been dry for a while is expensive to do properly. Water gets in and mixes with residual traces of the refrigerant and the oil, creating an acidic substance that corrodes the system from the inside out. If the car has been dry for a long time you will need the following:
Condensor (almost 100% certain to be corroded through with pinholes)
Receiver/Drier (dissicant in it will have been rendered inoperative)
Compressor (very likely seized from inoperation)
Possibly even the evaporator and the expansion valve, though the evaporator is the least likely.
At the very least, you need to replace the condensor and the receiver/drier. ANY time the system is opened and exposed to air for longer than a couple hours it's best to replace the receiver/drier.
Probably a few hundred dollars for the A/C.
ZV
Zenmervolt
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Most cars do not have separate fans for the A/C. They simply use a relay circuit to force the radiator fans (typically electric "puller" type fans mounted behind the radiator) to their "high" speed setting. The condensor, which is situated in front of the radiator, relies on the radiator fans sucking air through it as well.
ZV
Zenmervolt
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An old timer eh?Originally posted by: scorpmatt
ah, sorry. just a tad used to system with fans attached to the condensor. usually seen on vehicles that have clutch fans.
Even the RWD vehicles I've owned haven't had clutch-type fans, though I still have seen such a setup on large OTR diesels.
ZV
CrackRabbit
Lifer
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Actually that isn't always true, most of the newer cars I have seen have dual electric fans. One is run by a coolant temp sensor the other is used if the temp reaches a certain level or the A/C is turned on.
scorpmatt
Diamond Member
- Feb 8, 2001
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
An old timer eh?Originally posted by: scorpmatt
ah, sorry. just a tad used to system with fans attached to the condensor. usually seen on vehicles that have clutch fans.
Even the RWD vehicles I've owned haven't had clutch-type fans, though I still have seen such a setup on large OTR diesels.
ZV
not by a long shot.
I've got a total of 5 rwd vehicles at my house and only 1 has an electric fan. but it has a small 4cyl in a large truck bay, so there is no way a clutch fan would work.
Unfortunately those other 4 rwd vehicles are all different years of the same car.
and the cooling system in those is second to almost no other stock setup... When I had one of the radiators cleaned the shop guy said, this thing is a damn good radiator. It's stock? Damn, I don't have anything that could out-perform this one. not bad for a 23+ year old rad. 
CallMeJoe
Diamond Member
- Jul 30, 2004
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As Zenmervolt said, if the engine cools when the A/C is turned on, then the radiator, etc., are good. What is bad is the thermocouple that's supposed to trip the fan relay to turn on the cooling fan when the coolant temp gets too high. Turning the A/C on trips the fan relay from a pressure switch on the freon line.
Regardless of how simple the fix is, if a dealer hasn't taken care of an easy problem like this before putting a car out on the lot, I must agree with Crack Rabbit, Run away from this car and the dealer that is selling it.
Regardless of how simple the fix is, if a dealer hasn't taken care of an easy problem like this before putting a car out on the lot, I must agree with Crack Rabbit, Run away from this car and the dealer that is selling it.
GuitarDaddy
Lifer
- Nov 9, 2004
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The a/c is getting repaired tomorrow. I know i shouldn't trust a car dealer, but the old man is also a preacher! But I will take it and have a mechanic check it out regardless.
Originally posted by: scorpmatt
Unfortunately those other 4 rwd vehicles are all different years of the same car.
I'd put the cooling system in my MR2 up against it...you pretty much don't have to touch it no matter HOW much extra heat you start dumping in there with mods and the like.
Of course, mine's stock, but the potential is there.
CrackRabbit
Lifer
- Mar 30, 2001
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