The Viper got really hot today..

[Birvini]

Here in the Chicago area the temperature was right around 90 degrees today, not a cloud in the sky. I had been driving the car for a while, and it maintained a good temp while in motion. I stopped at a light for a few minutes, and the temp gauge went to around 220-225. As soon as started moving again, the temp went down.

With a 190 degree thermostat, shouldn't the fan kick in closer to 190 than 220. It seems that my car's temp will run at around 210-215 when the temperature is above 80-85 degrees outside. This does not seem normal.

I would like the opinion of others on this board. By the way, the car is a 94, if that makes a difference.

 

[Jay Herbert]

Could be air in your cooling system.... first check to see if your bottle (tucked inside the passenger fender in front of the front wheel) has fluid in it.... if it is low, fill it, you'll need to be a contortionist

, then follow the "Purging procedure" at the:

"How-To"

area of the site.

 

[Russ Oasis]

I installed a 190 degree thermostat on my 96 GTS and found (much to my dismay) that it did not lower the peak temperature when I sat at a light or idled for quite a while. It does let the engine cool down much quicker and to a cooler temp once you're rolling again. I'm not sure it was worth the price of installation (it's a little more involved than changing a normal thermostat). From what you describe, I think your car is running normally

 

[ruckdr]

Birvini,
Install the newer, larger cooling fan (1999+ I think). I got mine and installed it last week. JonB at Parts Rack will set you up. VERY simple installation. Check the illustrated updates for pictures of the old and new, plus how to install. Oh, I will send you a picture of my old and new. Check your email.
Later,

 

[RoyV101621]

A bigger cooling fan or a lower temp thermostat will not change the fan on, fan off points programmed into your ECM. Dodge calls this "normal operating temperature" Check with Sean Roe about wiring a fan on switch. I've been thinking of using the mystery switch to ground the fan relay. I don't think it will take more than splicing a wire in at two points.

 

[Birvini]

I purged the system today, and added probably 1 quart of coolant to the overflow bottle. It was very low. I let it idle for 10 minutes and then drove it "kinda" hard for about five minutes. It didn't go over 195. The conditions are drastically different today. Overcast and 70 degrees. Hopefully this will solve the problem. I will be ordering the fan that the 1999 and newer cars have.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Snake Bitten]

Birvini...

Your temp gauge is probably not very accurate, pretty common...I found for a more accurate reading, use an infared temp gun and check under hood, you can watch it heat up...aim it at the thermostat housing and watch when your fan kicks on...the IR heat gun is a much more accurate way of determining engine temps, and any local mechanic will let you borrow one for a few minutes to check this out...I added Sean Roe's upper and lower rad hoses with the "burp" valve in the upper, but did not need to use the valve. Borrowed a vacuum set up that fit the overflow bottle cap, put 25 inches of vacuum on the system (completely collapsed the upper and lower hoses) and then let the system load itself one of the over flow hoses, which slowly dropped the vacuum...loaded just about 3.2 gallons of 50/50 ethylene glycol and distilled water...worked awesome, and I have no air in the system at all...And when draining the entire cooling system, besides the rad drain plug, don't forget the two plugs, one on each side of the bottom of the block...And you already have the best advice in relation to upgrading to the later model fan...

 

[Tiepilot]

I was wondering as most newbies do, what exactly do I ask for concerning the fan. I have a '96 RT and is there just a module to buy or is there a new entire fan setup. I gather I need the entire fan unit, is there any further controllers/modules required with the new fan unit? and will it all just plug into my stock harness.
Chuck

 

[Serious Eric]

Agree with Rug Doctor. I had the same problems with my '95 until I put in the '99 fan module. No problems after that. I hassled with the whold 'burping' thing prior to that and it had no effect. The '99 fan cured it.

I've had two post-99 cars since then and they both run cool as a cucumber.