car runs super hot!!!

[sbiggi]

My brothers talon is running really hot....to the point where turning on the ac helps, and the car is trying to idle at 2000 rpm!!! WTF... I tested the O2 sensor according to Chiltons and I think its dead

Would that cause the car to idle high? I think it was running hot because his car is an automatic so in gear it would idle at 1000rpm but basically under load...and his base idle screw head broke off in the TB...

we need some help here, the car hasn't been running right for a while, we fixed/checked all the vacum lines, and I dont know what else to do other than a bad O2 sensor

[Hal]

DO the engine fans run?

The problems you mention won't really make it run hot

[sbiggi]

the fans do run...the car runs kind of bad to, it takes like 20 minutes before it runs real hot, it runs real slowww when it gets hot, it runs hot with the boost controler off too....would a datalogger help diagnose the problem, if so can some one hook one up to the car for us? We have an autoX this weekend and are trying to fix ot before then.

[hoffman]

http://www.dsm.org/how-tos/tttt/tttt3.html

http://www.dsm.org/archives/1998/02/19980213.txt/32.html

http://www.dsm.org/archives/1997/04/19970409.txt/8.html

anything else you can ever want to know is on dsm.org.
all most all the answers can found there.

good luck with the car

[XakEp]

ROFL - i have the same problem.. Know how I'm beating it? installing a FMIC.. Try cleaning your stock IC out - I'll bet money that its full of fine dirt and grit that has grown into slime...

[sbiggi]

Cleaned it out 3 weeks ago

[john]

Installing a front mount will not make your car run cooler - if anything it's going to impede airflow to the radiator....

What's your coolant level? Have you checked for leaks?

[sbiggi]

replaced the radiator, water pump, thermostat and radiator cap last year....it doesnt leak, and the level drops a little when it get really hot (when the gauge is almost in the red area)

[DSMxTSi]

Hmmm, sounds like everyone mentioned most things that you could check, but try checking the water pump belt. I doubt that's it, but it's worth a shot. A long time ago my '90 Talon would get super hot if I tried running the A/C, eventually it was that belt that was the problem and it snapped while on the highway, not a good thing to happen. Also, I would do the cheap/easy things first, such as replace the thermostat and change the coolant, and make sure to "burp" it after it's full by running the car till it warms up, then the thermostat opens and top the coolant off.

Cody

[john]

When you replaced the thermostat, did you use an OEM part?

If you are so inclined, remove the thermostat and drive the car. See if it still gets too hot?

[DSMxTSi]

Very true, I've seen many non-OEM parts such as thermostats and water pumps fail in a short period of time.

Could also remove the thermostat and place it in a pan of water on the stove and heat it up to see if it opens.

Cody

[sbiggi]

I'm going to check the cooling system, flush it, replace the O2, and clean the TB this weekend, and see if that works...I'll let update how it turns out..Thanks for the help!

[XakEp]

As everyone knows, my car suffers from a pretty mean case of Idel surge... NO MORE... I replace the UIC and its 99% gone! I drove the car to Sedalia and back and it only surged once! I hope once the FMIC goes on its gone for good.. Now if I can just figure out why the damn belts keep squealing...