over heating on acceleration

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Joshua TheHouse Schreder

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I have a 2002 LS v8 w/ 160,000 on it. Recently just did valve cover gaskets, new battery, new tires, new tie rod ends, and an alignment.

Anyway.. The other day the old lady and I stopped at a gas station and left the car on, A/C on, and windows up. When we got back in the car the A/C was blowing warm and when I accelerated the car overheated. Then today we stopped at a gas station once again and the car overheated just sitting there with no A/C on. I have been told that it is probably a thermostat but just wanted to get a few opinions on here before I order one. Thank you in advance.
 
No, it is probably not the thermostat. Do a little searching on here. The two biggest causes of overheating on the Gen I LS V8 are:
1. Tiny cracks in the plastic cooling system parts. You need to replace all the plastic cooling system parts and bleed the system by the factory manual.
2. Hydraulic cooling fan system problems.
 
I opened the hood when it was overheating and the fan was going. Is there anyway to tell if it is this cooling system issue?
 
Joshua TheHouse Schreder said:
I opened the hood when it was overheating and the fan was going. Is there anyway to tell if it is this cooling system issue?
Click to expand...

Sure. Has it been more than five years since you replaced all of the plastic cooling system parts? Then you have cracked plastic parts for sure.
Ever have to add coolant? Then you have cracked plastic parts for sure.
 
I have only owned the car for two years and I have not replaced any of the plastic parts. I also have never had to add any coolant in two years, it has not even gone down one centimeter. Once I reach highway speeds I can turn the A/C on 60 degrees and full blast with no problems of it overheating. If I leave the A/C and stop for a few minutes it will blow warm then the overheating begins.
 
You can fight it if you want. AFAIK, all LS overheating comes down to the two things, hydraulic fan issues and cracked plastic cooling system parts. There's a lot of information in this forum on how to check for both issues. (Just observing that the fan is running at some speed is not enough to say that it is working correctly For example, if it doesn't sound like a little jet engine when you are overheating, it's not working correctly.)
 
joegr said:
if it doesn't sound like a little jet engine when you are overheating, it's not working correctly.
Click to expand...

hahaha!


everyone always says "how do I know if its on high?"

if you're questioning if its on high, then its probably not on high...
when its on high, you KNOW its on high!
 
I too thought my cooling fan was working because it was turning. But I was wrong. Turned out the fan motor and controls were bad. The hydraulic cooling fan will fool you. I also replaced all the plastic parts to be safe. In for a penny in for a pound.

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Have you had any coolant components replaced recently? Maybe just a air bleed will suffice. I'm with Joe and others that you probably have a hairline crack somewhere. Just because you don't see or notice coolant levels dropping doesn't mean air isn't getting in. Try to bleed it first, the procedure is listed up top in the tech articles. Follow it verbatim.
 
no coolant components were replaced in the couple of years i have owned it. I will try the bleed it and see how that goes. If I bleed it and it is ok then I obviously know it is the plastic parts correct? Also I will have to look into the cooling fan issue. The fan was spinning fast but it wasn't loud compared to the motor at all when I lifted the hood. If anyone has a link to a good thread on the fan issue that would be much appreciated if you could send it to me. So the A/C only blows warm when I stop.
 
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