1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

S

Singer

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I have an 89 Cutlass Ciera that has been lighting up the temp light recently. I completely replaced the radiator last year in Sept, and that is the only other time I have ever seen the temperature light come on. Whenever I see the light come on, I immediately park it and wait for a few mins to let the engine cool. It seems if I am idling with/without the vent on, or even driving with the air it lights up. My only solution to the problem so far has been to ride with all the windows down. Could this possibly be a thermostat?

Also, the car idles at varying speeds...If I am parked, and turn the air on, the idle kicks up...if I am in park, it idles very loudly and there seems to be a continuous noise, like something rubbing a spot every time it turns/goes around. (does that make sense?) Is that possibly a belt? When I'm in park and drop into reverse or drive, the car idles so low that I think it dies or I can't even hear it. What gives?

I will be driving the car back and forth to campus when my semester begins on Aug 24. I will be driving approx 20 mins up and back--say about ten miles either way. I need to get this fixed before classes start again. Thanks so much for your help, I appreciate it.
 
I don't know about the idling, you may want to check you timing, but as for the overheating was anything clogged in your old radiator or was it just busted? My 85 cutlass supreme was overheating due to a broken water pump so I replaced the thermostat and water pump as well as having the whole system backflushed and it solved the problem.
And I know that feel that you're talking about when you have the ac runnning. It feels like the fan is grinding, but I never knew what it was, and my ac compressor doesn't work anymore so I can't help you there.
 
Originally posted by a18sccr@Aug 10 2005, 02:00 AM
I don't know about the idling, you may want to check you timing, but as for the overheating was anything clogged in your old radiator or was it just busted? My 85 cutlass supreme was overheating due to a broken water pump so I replaced the thermostat and water pump as well as having the whole system backflushed and it solved the problem.
And I know that feel that you're talking about when you have the ac runnning. It feels like the fan is grinding, but I never knew what it was, and my ac compressor doesn't work anymore so I can't help you there.
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To my knowledge, there wasn't anything clogged in my old radiator--it was just completely broken and leaking fluid, etc, etc....I am not sure if my water pump has been replaced, but the radiator was completely. Are the thermostats expensive and are they available pretty much anywhere (autozone, advance autoparts, etc)? Thanks so much for your reply.
 
Like 85 Ciera said, they are only a few bucks and available most anywhere. you just have to get the right temperature thermostat for your car. Replace that and see if it solves the problem. If not, check to see if you are losing pressure anywhere, and/or if there is oil in your coolant, or if there is coolant in your oil. If so your head gasket is blown, but I don't think it's that bad from what you described.
You can always ride around with your heat on until then. That cools the engine down a little.
 
Originally posted by a18sccr@Aug 11 2005, 06:28 PM
Like 85 Ciera said, they are only a few bucks and available most anywhere. you just have to get the right temperature thermostat for your car. Replace that and see if it solves the problem. If not, check to see if you are losing pressure anywhere, and/or if there is oil in your coolant, or if there is coolant in your oil. If so your head gasket is blown, but I don't think it's that bad from what you described.
You can always ride around with your heat on until then. That cools the engine down a little.
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If it is the water pump and its anything like the 3.1 v-6 in my 90 cutlass supreme sl then the water pump is really easy to change and is inexpensive. The pump core with the impeller and all unbolts from the housing and took me 30 mins to do.
 
FIXED!

Thanks so much, everyone. I had my Dad take a look at it and he replaced the thermostat. Just cross your fingers and hope that this is the last thing to replace for at least a while. :D Thanks, again!!
 
Originally posted by Singer@Aug 23 2005, 07:31 AM
FIXED!

Thanks so much, everyone. I had my Dad take a look at it and he replaced the thermostat. Just cross your fingers and hope that this is the last thing to replace for at least a while. :D Thanks, again!!
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Glad you got it... At times with age the thermostat can stick shut and cause overheating... The one good thing I can say about the Buick powertrain is that we seldom have fan issues unless the fan motor fails...

Did your dad use a 195F or a 180F?
 
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