Hi all , yesterday my SS went from normal temps of 194-201 up to 217 (highesst its ever been) while stopped for a train, sat 2 min. the fan kicked on for the first time ever, in 44,000 miles . All fluides are fine, Resevoir and under rad. cap.
today up to 216 at a red light, Driving on the highway 199 Thats 5 degrees higher than normal .
The temps outside today are 49-50 (cooler than lately)

Anybody have any ideas, ever time i stop the temp gauge just starts tickin up. There have been no changes made to the SS in several months

Any thoughts greatly apprec.

 

I assume you looked to make sure the coolant is topped off, no air in the system, the lower air damn isn't missing and the radiator is clean and the baffles are in place. You aren't losing coolant, right? Did the fan bring it down?

The big question is if this is a change from how it reacted in the past under the exact same conditions. 217 at a stop isn't out of line depending on the conditions. Is this the first time you noticed it or would it stay lower under the same conditions in the past? It sounds like you are seeing a change.

 

Hey Batman! Did you check the fluid level warm or cold? If you checked them warm, then check them again 1st thing in the morning before starting the car. I've discovered on several cars that checking the coolant level warm can be deceptive.

I'd need to check the manual, but depending on the physical location of the fan sensor a minor drop in fluid level can cause the coolant fan switch to trigger erratically. The higher the location of the switch the more sensitive this becomes. It might also be thermostat replacement time. If the stat is not opening all the way, then the heat cannot e fully dissipated.

Another question would be, have you had any recent service done that could have effected anything?

Rubic

 

No service or changes. this morning resovior filled ,radiator filled , All fluides filled.


Before yesterday at a stop light i would watch the temp raise 2-3 degrees today, 8-10. upon moving it slowly comes down to normal, Where it used to come down the 2-3 degrees in 20 sec.
on the highway today 205 , The car has since day 1 ran at 194-198 on the highway (whatever the speed).

Never has my fan kicked on , or needed to, Now it has twice in 2 days of driving. Somethings not rite. But other than the temp , The car is as normal as ever, No changes. Maybe i need to power wash the radiator. ?

 

Could be a thermostat starting to stick? Might be worth it to change the tstat, fluid and check everything over, just in case. Origional owner of mine said the tstat went out at 25k. Something to consider.

 

Is that somthing a shady tree mechanic can do, Or is it a cash money trip to the dealer.

 

Those were the exact symptoms I had when my turbo coolant bypass failed. I noticed no driveability issues, but temp would creep up at a stop.(highest ever was 229) Just something to keep in the back of your mind if its not the thermostat.


SPPD

 

I would think that is under the warranty. You should send ChevyMgr a note about it.

 

Thermostat change is very easy. Drain the coolant (usually from the bottom of the radiator), then find the upper radiator hose and follow it to the engine block. The thermostat should usually be in it's own housing at the end of that hose. Haven't done it on the HHR, so if it sounds like I'm generalizing, I am. Did it on my Lumina and it took me about 3 min (plus drain time)

 

So I got interested to go look out in the garage and took the camera. Thermostat is on the drivers side, bout half way down the block on the back side. If you look at this pic, it the little round ball with the bolts in it (just in front of the brake fluid cap in the pic)
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Better shot after I moved some of the wire loom
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Hope that helps