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1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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huxley
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Nov 5, 2008, 5:33 PM
Post #26 of 33
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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Hey Tom,
Just wanted to throw an update your way. Haven't had a chance to pick up the thermometer yet. The gauge is still reading the same way-starts at the place in the picture from above when the car is first started on a cool morning and goes a little past halfway up and stays there for the most part. Car doesn't feel any hotter, I can hear the fan coming on when it's supposed to (I assume), and it runs and drives without issue. Still don't quite understand what the problem is here, but I'm sure I'll figure it out soon. Today I filled up the radiator with some more water from one of the top radiator lines instead of the surge tank. It took a bit more water, but not a lot. No leaks to speak of. No more issues with me thinking there is coolant getting into the engine. I'll grab that thermometer soon and get some actual readings to go by.
Oh-and I unplugged the sending unit (or what I thought was the sending unit) and it didn't make a difference on the dash at ALL. Am I maybe not thinking of the right unit? I'll take a pic if needed.
Thanks,
Nate
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 5, 2008, 8:38 PM
Post #27 of 33
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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On your 1992 Pontiac Grand Am 2.3L MFI SOHC Quad , the Coolant Temperature Sensor is located:  Under hood, driver side, upper engine area, above transmission housing, mounted in cylinder head
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Dunno which you checked for sender for gauge. This suggest the guage sender is in the cylinder head. I dunno right now - if there's no change it may have a pinched wire screwing up the reading for the dash??
It sure would be nice if you could trust the thing with a temp issue and the coolant thing going on. Hope it's not the dash end - don't really know what you would need to do for a 1992 for that?
Refresh my memory - when did this gauge first give you a reading you didn't trust?
T
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huxley
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Nov 9, 2008, 4:06 PM
Post #28 of 33
(1397 views)
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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Hey Tom,
A friend told me about an actual grand am auto owners club that I could hit up for info with this problem I'm experiencing still. I did that and they seem to be fairly lost too. I gave them the background on this problem, gave you and carjunky an honorable mention, and then went from there. If you have time, would you mind taking a look at it and seeing if anything jumps out at you? The thread can be found at http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1288259#post1288259 and there are some new pictures there.
And this is already written there, but I'm having more problems now. When the car is completely stone cold, the gauge immediately jumps halfway up to the 220 range and then fluctuates between there and the red zone. I also noticed that the upper radiator hose that leads into the therm housing is starting to develop a slight bulge and feels mildly weaker in that area. Any idea on this?
Thanks and I hope you're well!
Nate
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huxley
User
Nov 9, 2008, 4:31 PM
Post #29 of 33
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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Oh and to answer your question regarding when the gauge gave me a reading I didn't trust-it was BEFORE I ever replaced the thermostat. It was at the beginning of this entire issue. I didn't trust that it was actually overheating, but I wasn't sure.
-Nate
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 9, 2008, 5:26 PM
Post #30 of 33
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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Did you locate the sender for the gauge on dash? It should make the dash gauge not work or change at all if unplugged. It's a thermistor grounding or giving exacting ohms thru it to the needle of the gauge. If wires are pinched they could screw it up - look for that too. So far I'm more apt to blame the sender. There are likely two - one called sender and one called sensor and perhaps another to tell fan to come on for radiator. You will have to hunt for which is for which.
I think temp gauge sensor/sender is on the cylinder head but not certain,
T
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carconnect
New User
Nov 10, 2008, 10:42 AM
Post #31 of 33
(1380 views)
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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I wish I had advice to offer regarding your engine overheating. But in general, I agree that DIY is just so much more rewarding than relying upon a mechanic. It's exciting to figure out the problem and put together a plan to fix it. Maybe it's a control thing, but I like knowing that I have the ability to manage my car's performance and functioning (to an extent, of course). We should all be master's of our cars, right?
Buying expensive parts and tools is definitely hard to swallow, but tools than can be re-used are a great investment.
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huxley
User
Nov 10, 2008, 2:29 PM
Post #32 of 33
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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Hey Tom!
It's good! It's fixed! It's back!
I replaced the temperature sending unit-not the sensor next to it-and the gauge is now reading correctly. I'm thrilled! Thank you so much for all of your help on this one. And wow, what a lengthy thread. I'll try to keep the damn things shorter next time. I guess it's that aspiring writer in me...
Take care and thanks again Tom. Next project is the suspension and I'll let you know how that goes!
Much love,
Nate
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 10, 2008, 4:18 PM
Post #33 of 33
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Overheating-Water in engine?
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Here's the ticker tape parade for the success after the longest thread known to mankind for a thermostat and and temp sender but the proof is in the success that it's worth the effort.
Great work Nate.
Congrats. It's fun working with you and keeps me double checking my own memory for stuff.
Now for the struts:
You decide how much of that you want to take on or farm out part or all. Please start a new thread for that if you haven't already.
Take care buddy,
Tom
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