Coolant temp gauge...?

[Android42019]

Ok well I'm not sure which to believe....the needle or the digital gauge...any takers on which is right? I'll take it to the dealer but id like to maybe identify at least what isn't the problem first....while I'm driving the car on the highway it ranges it's temp(on the digital gauge of course) from 194-210. I start driving in the neighborhoods with son stop and go then the temp will go from 210-217. I park the car and the temp then begins to steadily rise up 225-236 but the fans never come on and the needle never leaves the normal position halfway before the middle line....any insight would be great....

edit:I should also mention that it's been below 60 degrees in tx with this happening.

http://youtu.be/Ttc_hjB8jHo

[camaro1350]

It's hard to tell it might be either one that is wrong but something is not right. If the digital one is right than something is wrong with the coolant switch that turns the fans on. If the digital one is correct than something wrong with the digital gauge or computer. I leaning more on the digital because mine never goes above 181 on the highway. I know not much help but would take it in should be an easy fix.

[wakespeak]

Digital is correct ; the needle is more of an idiot light.

Mine has similar behavior. It actually runs hotter in the cooler months. I have also seen 230-235 waiting in traffic even with the ambient at 40F. The fans must be set in the 230s somewhere. Turn on the AC (you can leave the AC temp setting in the middle or whatever) and it will come down.

Check your coolant level to be sure.

Edit: I have the v-8 but looks to be similar to yours in behavior.

[wayne watson]

There's not much temp difference on mine but I know a manual gauge is never dead on just gives a ball park reading
By the way I finally found how to put pic on

[2xSSRS]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

Digital is correct ; the needle is more of an idiot light.

Mine has similar behavior. It actually runs hotter in the cooler months. I have also seen 230-235 waiting in traffic even with the ambient at 40F. The fans must be set in the 230s somewhere. Turn on the AC (you can leave the AC temp setting in the middle or whatever) and it will come down.

Check your coolant level to be sure.

Edit: I have the v-8 but looks to be similar to yours in behavior.

My fans kick on around 200. I would panic if I were at 230 and no fans running.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by 2xSSRS

My fans kick on around 200. I would panic if I were at 230 and no fans running.

+1. the highest I've ever seen mine get was about 220 sitting in traffic in myrtle beach SC in august with an outside temp of about 95

[omgitsmikeyC]

Mine hit 236 once, my thermo had started going out. Swapped it out, now highest is 220-225 and it was in the 90s during this. Also tx.

[omgitsmikeyC]

Also, with ac unit on, car should keep temp 200-210. Ac off 220 in traffic is normal.

[Android42019]

Ok, could the water pump be an issue? The Chevy service guy said it would throw a check engine light if it was the thermostat, is this true? I've not had much experience dealing with dealerships service dpt and the time I thought I'd be treated well, I wasn't. I wanna be able to call bs if need be..

[ChrisBlair]

for reference, boil-over temp of a 15 psi cooling system is 247*F

Originally Posted by wakespeak

Digital is correct ; the needle is more of an idiot light.

I think that you fortunately don't have much experience with actual idiot lights, a needle sweep gauge is vastly superior to a light that only tells you it's just about too late to do anything about the problem. Personally I still feel that an oldschool mechanical gauge is the most reliable, since I can 'tune' it

It's also worth noting that many 'idiot lights' actually had more than simply an off and on condition, the causal owner just never really noticed. GM's old 'GEN' idiot light was actually a good diagnostic tool that could tell you what's wrong with the system, depending on when its on, when it's off, and when it was half-bright (which would be normal for instance when the ignition switch is being used).

[GVA 45TH 2SS]

I had similar question this summer> http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299196
cliff notes version is Stock timing for cooling fans is on at 220 off at 210 I think that is low speed any higher it will put fans on high speed.
Your engine is off in the video, I think the fans will only work while engine is running( I know... they are electric)
FWIW those fans are very quiet have the hood open while its idling and watch the temp and fans.
And check your coolant level the higher temps of these settings lead to coolant evaporation.

[omgitsmikeyC]

I never ran a code with the thermostat. The car would run a code of overheating, I didn't get far enough to overheat it.

[ChrisBlair]

Maybe I have misunderstood

The engine is off and the temp is rising? Why isn't that perfectly normal? The water pump isn't circulating so the coolant at the probe is static.

I have a nice mechanical gauge in my '70 with the 7.5L. That engine runs a touch hot due to overbore. But it doesn't go over 220. The gauge is always 'on' since it's not electric. if I run the car and then shut it off, the temp spikes. Normal.

I think the issue here is "should the camaro's fans be coming on when this happens even though the engine is off'

[TooCool5]

A scantool temp readout will tell you which gage is right.