96 camaro high temp at idle

[camrs96]

96 chevy camaro 3.8. i got a problem with the idle tempature, just peplaced the water pump and thermostat (180 degree). when driving around the cars stays at a constant 180 temp but when sitting and idling for more than 3 or 4 minutes the temp starts to climb and gets up to about 230-240 which i know is not good but thats when the fans start to kick on. the system is clean all new antifreeze, no air in the system everythings ready to go. iknow its not normal for the temp to climb that high does anybody possibly know what else could be cause this high temp at idle?

thanks

[Scrapper]

you can try changing thermostat and see if that help's or have you already?

[camrs96]

yeah this is the second one ive tried. i actually had bought a thermostat that opened up at 192 cause thats what they told me the car called for but when i put that in the car would heat up to 192 the fluxuate back do to 180 and it would do this repeatedly, i wasnt happy with that i actually thought that it was a defective thermostat so i brought it back and i had purchased the 180 degree, i was a little more comfortable with that temp cause i originally thought that 192 was high? but anyways yeah its got a brand new thermnostate. i kinda stumped on this one, im thinkin maybe could it have somthin to do with the fan sensors, maybe their not kicking on at the right temp?

[poormillionaire2]

Tune the PCM to turn the fans on at a lower temp, to match your t-stat.

[instantkevin]

Originally Posted by poormillionaire2

Tune the PCM to turn the fans on at a lower temp, to match your t-stat.

Seriously? You say that like it's just an adjustment on a knob. Sure, while its a good idea from a performance mod standpoint, this is not good advice to fix this problem.

This is likely a failed temperature sending switch. Sounds like the swtich is kicking in at too high a temp. Either it is the wrong one for your car or failed. Replace it. There may be a coolant temperature sensor and a radiator fan switch seperately. sometimes they are the same sensor. I am not sure on 4th gens.

if that doesnt work, either replace the relay, or get an aftermarket fan switch/relay and wire it to your fan(s). Around $40 from summitracing.com

[skitch2]

My sone has a 96 and the temp will get up to about 230-240 before the fans kick on. I had a 91 before and it did the same thing. I called the dealer and they said that is the temp the fans are supose to come on at. so I think you are OK.

[izzydjinn]

Did you purge the air out?

[kwoods5]

I recently had same issue with my 96 rs and mechanic determined there was an issue with the intake gasket. Sounded weird to me but after he replaced gasket it resolved issue and now my temp is about 210 at idle.

[burned]

Could be a head gasket, or a plugged rad?

Some reading for you.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/overheat.htm

[FastIROCZ28]

This is really about normal. The fans kicking on at those temps you stated and I'm assuming it's alot of stop and go traffic? Yes, this is about normal and my car does this almost too. My fan will kick on and keep her cool and she never overheats.