radiator over heating

hi i just got a 97 z28 camaro and when stop at a light i've noticed the temp gauge starts to creep up to the hot side.I checked the radiator fans and they are not working any ideas on where to start checking why they don't come on.

thx for your help

first, how hot does it get? the fans dont come on till around 255* which is an eigth of a fraction over half way on the guage (about). second, id start with your fuses and relays. also, try turning on the a/c and see if the fans come on.

and if that doesn't work, check the coolant temp sensor.

yeah thats the next step...

we make such a great team dont we :D

hell yeah!!

and if that dont work, check the fan plugs for
loose connections....that has happened to me
before.

first, how hot does it get? the fans dont come on till around 255* which is an eigth of a fraction over half way on the guage (about). second, id start with your fuses and relays. also, try turning on the a/c and see if the fans come on.
hi on the relays is there a way to check if they are bad?
thx

the best way that i can think of is to take one that you know works that has the same voltages and everything (like your headlight relay, or a/c relay) unplug the cooling relay and plug in the test relay. if it works than there ya go, if not than its prolly something else...

Any chance the previous owner installed a lower thermostat, say a 160 degree?

i put a 160 in the 91 rs that i had, i run it 2 years with it in it
all it done was overheat. i didnt know at the time that my fan
was coming on around 190. it even warped the heads,
it never run under 220, and advanced auto parts recomended it.
yeah better check it out.

i didnt use a thermostat....

i got a 160 in my car and the thing runs beautifully. you just have to remember that the fans dont turn on till like 250 or something, so its gonna get hot before the ecu knows whats up. i put a manual fan switch in my car so now she runs cooler than ever...

Always check the fan motor first!!! directly connect the fan motor to the battery.... if this does'nt work then the motor is dead and you need to replace it. If it does work then the problem lies in a relay or coolant temp sensor. which should be somewhere around the thermostat.

So it doesn't come on w/ the AC ??

Get a mitchel manual or mitchel on-line or all data-
It will give you a flow chart to fix it- if you can follow it. Don't start throwing parts at it you will go broke or nuts (OR vice versa)