Temp gauge

Torxx · Post by **Torxx** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:37 pm

Should I trust the temp gauge on my '79 spider.

i drove it 12 hours to get it home when i bought it, no temp probs at all. i have noticed when i drive around town that the gauge will range fom mid dile 190 deg +/- to the point just below warning area 220 deg+/-. fan works fine, and no obvious signs of overheating. the gauge will go up at a stop sign and generally go back down when cruising, but sometimes stays up a bit.

words of wisdom please.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:42 pm

the temp guages are usually pretty accurate, unlike the oil guages. I'd check into the cooling system if I were you

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:06 pm

check for an air bubble, and trust the gauge.

mine likes to run fine (temp) when i watch it. when I do not pay attention, it likes to heat up.

do you have a belly pan on your 'new' '79? how about the chin spoiler? you'd be amazed how much proper air flow affects the cooling status of your engine. it does not take much to change from proper air flow-to poor flow

Torxx · Post by **Torxx** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:14 pm

no chin spoiler, what's a belly pan. What is a normal range for the temp guage to read (min to max) when operating properly.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:32 pm

The belly pan is a piece of metal that is screwed onto the front valance, under the grille and extends to or over the oil pan. The external thermostat doesn't start opening until 182 degrees and is fully open by the time it reaches 210. If the fan comes on, it's unlikely you have air in the system, but like Mark says, it wouldn't hurt to check the radiator to make sure it's flowing efficiently and change the coolant.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:16 pm

the fan should come on at 195 and keep the engine from going hotter than that, unless of course you're operating in some extreme conditions

Torxx · Post by **Torxx** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:03 pm

rats!!!! sounds like i have cooling issue. i'll hope for an air bubble.

Torxx · Post by **Torxx** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:07 pm

if the fan should come on at 195 deg does that mean hat the fan should generally runs most of the time during operation?

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:40 pm

My fan kicks on at stop lights when the temp creeps up, but it doesn't run very often. A good coolant flush may help yours out.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:45 pm

Torxx

check your email

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:33 pm

the fan should be cycling on and off, depending on outside temps. Remember, the fan switch is in the bottom of the rad-that's the coolest spot in the cooling system, and the gauge temp sender is at the top of the head, the hottest spot in the system.
If your fan is working, I'd check the temp across the face of the rad. You may have a rad that's partially restricted. Unfortunately, flushing won't cure that problem. The rad has to be rodded out

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:25 pm

Im bad, not only have I been runnin on water, I dont have my bellypan on either, but the cooling fan comes on( infrequently ) at 195, cools quickly, thats in traffic only. After drivin for 12 hours, I would think that you wouldnt still have a bubble. There have been posts discussing bleeding procedures, they are helpfull. If you dont find any leaks or causes, you could chech your thermostat in boiling water, and flush the system w thermostat out. At that point if it still gets hot, your radiator could be clogged. I have also seen loose or shiney belts cause strange problems.

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:22 pm

Can someone post a picture of the belly pan?

I dont have one, are they stock or an aftermarket improvement?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:36 pm

those pans were stock, and it's been along time since I've seen one in place

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 10:22 pm

can't find a pic right now. try jonL1968@hotmail.com if you want to buy one. he said he had some this spring. he might be able to getcha a pic as well.

both my Spiders have one in place. the '78 has one with a mini chin spoiler from a 1976 spider. i found it on my buddy's parts car. the '80 has its original plain stock pan.

most pans were removed and discarded because they made it a pain in the neck to get the oil filter off and on. nine-eleven bolts or machine screws, i think.

they also tended to collect a lotta crud when not kept clean at every oil change. the one i salvaged for the '78 literally had about 1/8" of mud/crud/caked on oil.

not surprising that many are gone.