94 oldsmobile bravada overheating

[lilbit21]

my 94 bravada's dash panel doesnt work but when it does it says my truck is over heating is that true or is the panel telling me wrong? i changed the water pump thermostat and hoses and still happens someone please give me and answer thanks

[kok328]

Pop the hood and see for yourself.
Sounds like a bad circuit to the temp sensor or bad temp sensor itself.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by lilbit21

my 94 bravada's dash panel doesnt work but when it does it says my truck is over heating is that true or is the panel telling me wrong? i changed the water pump thermostat and hoses and still happens someone please give me and answer thanks

the whole dash panel doesn't work, or just the temp guage? what engine and how many miles?

[Chris Stewart]

Do the gauges have needles or bars? Does the speedometer work?

[bromley]

i also have a 94 thats overheating i have replaced the thermostst and the waterpump aswell as the tempsensor it still reads that is overheating and it has 108k 4.3 auto with digi readout on the dash what did you do to fix yours

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF. Aside from the digital readout, what else is telling you it is overheating? You should scan it and get the actual temp readings from the sensor and pcm also. BTW this is way too a old a thread. After this is done it will be closed. In the future look at the dates, if older than 3 months start a new thread.

[Chris Stewart]

If the temperature climbs a normal rate and just keeps going past the 1 bar after 200 degrees, check to see if the engine fan gets loud and starts pulling a ton of air. If not then the fan clutch is suspect.
Does the heater blow very hot air when you get a high temperature reading?
You might check to see if the radiator and air conditioner condenser are free of debris and clean behind the grill.

[Joshua M. Smith]

Go to an auto parts store and ask for an A/C vent / radiator thermometer. This costs maybe $5 at most.

Take the radiator cap off, insert it, and start the motor. When it says it's overheating, look at the thermometer and it'll tell you whether you really have a major problem.

Josh <><

[Chris Stewart]

Good idea Josh but isn't the radiator cap AFTER the water has gone through the radiator? Maybe if you blocked the airflow then compared the temperature probe against the dash gauge?

[Joshua M. Smith]

Chris,

The hot water is brought in throught he lower raditor hose and sent back to the engine by passing through the upper radiator hose. If I am remembering right, which I may not be, the coolant temp sensor is right there by the thermostate housing, and this would give a fairly accurate reading.

If I'm off on the schematic I'm seeing in my head, then of course you're right about blocking off the radiator.

This is just the way the shop I worked for at one time preferred to do it, and I got good results.

Thanks,

Josh <><

[Chris Stewart]

Josh ol' buddy, doesn't engine heated water open the thermostat then that water goes to the radiator to be cooled off?