Hey all, I just got my a/c recharged and was thinking all would be good. Alas, as I was driving along (appr. 100deg F outside) testing my new air out, I noticed that the engine was running MUCH hotter than usual. It's normally half way between cold and hot, but now it's running very close to the Hot line (second line below that line). I knew the a/c would drag a lot, but I was hoping to at least have air for these horrible summers where I live. If you guys have any suggestions as to what could be causing it to run so hot it would be Much appreciated. I wonder if I may need to have my radiator serviced/replaced? Thanks.

 

Sounds like your fans aren't turning on high when you have the A/C on, check that.

 

?????

The fan is mechanical.


Dont drive the car with it running that hot, You will kill the engine.

Check and make sure the wire is on the temp sensor.
check the fan.
New T-stat
Have the rad serviced or just replace it, $125 from Radaitors.com
check belts.
Check for blockage infront of the rad

 

I wonder, is it possible for the compressor to cause so much drag as to overheat like that? If so, I would be looking into replacing it. Just a thought.

 

just don't use the air conditioning...open your windows...and possibly sunroof if you have one I find that the cross breeze created between the 3 windows cools me down way more than the AC!! and its freeer because you don't have to power the AC

 

IF you have an electric fan...

I found my electric fan wasn't pulling enough CFM to run the A/C on a hot (90+) day. I removed it and replaced it with the original mechanical fan, and haven't had a problem since.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone, it is much appreciated!

The fan is mechanical and the clutch is new, fan's running fine.
I'm thinking that a different compressor would drag just as much, but I'm not sure. Hades, checked for blockage, but nothing significant. I'm thinking since the engine was running at a fine temp before, the radiator probably does need to be replaced. Thanks for the heads-up on radiator.com, I'm going to check that out right now.
Lee, open windows might have worked when I lived on the coast, but in the high desert? Not a chance!