What Are You Doing To/With Your Car Today?

Today it was low 80's so I decided to see what's up with my cooling system. The non-adjustable temp switch kicks the Contour fans on at 198 and off at 192... would like to find one that's more like 192/185. Anyhow, either temp is not a problem while idling (and if I lock the fans on, it will stay on the stat at 183 when the ambient temp is 80 or less).

But while driving 25-30 mph, or on the highway at 55-60, it wants to heat up until the fans come on at 198. On a hot day they won't shut off again since it stays around 194. Unless the Contour fans are a significant obstruction while free-wheeling, the problem has to be not enough flow or not enough radiator. Over on Moparts they recommend a good high-flow thermostat before chasing expensive radiators, and I plan to try that.

Anyhow it always stays below 200 even on a 94F day and I don't often take it out for a cruise in that kind of oven temps (no air conditioning!). I just want the t-stat to be the sole determinant of the system temp, as it is supposed to be (except while idling, which is up to the electric fans and their thermostat switch).

I also found that I'd forgotten to install the appropriately rated (80 amp) ice cube relay with heavy supply wiring... I'd just patched in a standard 30 amp one for a quick test when I installed the fans, and forgotten about it :realcrazy: Luckily, nothing melted or burned up, but the relay was definitely on its last legs. As an EE you'd think I'd know better... I wired in the proper relay before doing anything else!