questions after fmic install

[95whitegst]

so after my front mount install everything has been awsome no problems but the other week i was driving down the highway with a few other people to a meet in harrisburg and my cars temp gauge would creep up a little bit on the highway then i would ease off the gas and let it drop back down drive for a little while then it would creep up again and i would just continue to do the same thing...all this was only after the front mount install and its only on the highway around town the car is perfectly fine i can drive it all day no problems let it idle for hours no problem gauge wont move its only while driveing on the highway for about 20 min or more at a constant speed. now fabian i know you might read this and be like i told you to get a new thermostat ass haha but im just getting different opinions so does anyone have any ideas as to what it could be im assuming its because im blocking air from the rad at highway speeds how do i correct it?

 

[eazy2g]

so after my front mount install everything has been awsome no problems but the other week i was driving down the highway with a few other people to a meet in harrisburg and my cars temp gauge would creep up a little bit on the highway then i would ease off the gas and let it drop back down drive for a little while then it would creep up again and i would just continue to do the same thing...all this was only after the front mount install and its only on the highway around town the car is perfectly fine i can drive it all day no problems let it idle for hours no problem gauge wont move its only while driveing on the highway for about 20 min or more at a constant speed. now fabian i know you might read this and be like i told you to get a new thermostat ass haha but im just getting different opinions so does anyone have any ideas as to what it could be im assuming its because im blocking air from the rad at highway speeds how do i correct it?

I dont think you are really blocking air from hitting the radiator with the FMIC. Did you check to make sure your coolant is topped off? It may have a small leak somewhere. I saw someone with the same problem of the temp going up and down because he was losing fluid but couldn't find where it was going. It would probably be a good idea to change your therm too though.

 

[untouchablecc]

A thermostat is always a good idea but dont go too cold on it, no less then 180. I had an issue like that but i custom made my piping for my front mount, all i did was put some space between my cooler and my rad and i took out the AC rad and that freed up a lot of air but if you have ac and like it this is an issue.

 

[95whitegst]

yea i forgot to mention fluid is all toped off and everything and there are noooo leaks ive checked and checked cant find a drop ill most likely change out the thermo this week and see how that goes i just dont get why it would only be highway driving and not around town either that or im just drawing a blank

 

[Dsmj89]

Funny you posted this as i am also suffering this wit hsomewhat the same way you mentioned yours.
I am fed up and i'm just going to go with an aluminum radiator, stock oem pass. side fan, flex a lite 12" puller and 10" pusher fan and coolant flush with 25/75 coolant/water mix and a bottle of water wetter.
I'll post back how it goes, although it will take a while unless you beat me to it and see if any of this stuff worked for you.

 

[velocitysport31]

The front mount is definitely causing your over heating issues, your going to need to make some ducting to seal the front mount to your radiator so that it directs the air to the radiator. Or up grade your radiator and fans to spal 1360's or if you can fit a 13" 1710 spal fan. i was able to fit a 13" spal 1710 on my koyo radiator make sure you buy there relay kit, Don't buy a Flex a lite fans there not as good as spal, Changing your thermostat isn't going to help you unless its stuck closed then you would be overheating instantly.

 

[95whitegst]

j lemme know how that works for you i might get the fans and see how that works and if that doesnt then get the aluminum rad and if none of that works then f it haha

also another buddy of mines does this too after his front mount install but of course fabian if your reading this his doesnt and his car runs amazing vented bov and big intercooler its fine my car if i did all that it would just shut itself off funny how our cars have minds of their own

 

[velocitysport31]

Does your friend still have his AC condenser

 

[95whitegst]

yup i do as well

 

[velocitysport31]

I had the same issues, my car never overheated i put a punishment front mount, bullseye 50 timm, with 3" downpipe and exhaust. instantly i had heating issues. Only on hot days and if i was going up a hill. I tired everything like thermostat, flushed coolant, 25/75 coolant mix, water weter, i cut the top piece out of the bumper wich helped but i still had issues. I purchased a flex a lite fan and they sucked. changed to a 13" spal and bam no heating issues, a piece of paper would stick to the front of my intercooler when they were on. Also what turbo are you running some generate more heat then others. you might want to use some header wrap were ever you can to help with under hood temps.

 

[95whitegst]

im only running the stock t25 14b here in a few weeks and where did you get the fans also did you use them as pullers or pushers

 

[velocitysport31]

got them at A1 Electric Automotive Accessories, Power windows, Power door locks, keyless entry systems, Window motors, Window regulators, Pop door kits, the 13" you have to trim a little bit, also make sure you get there relay kit, its really nice and its waterproof you can also get it the relay with temp control with an extra sensor so it will come on sooner then the ecu will allow. Pretty easy install if your good with wiring.

 

[95whitegst]

you think i could just have it to a switch and just turn it on and off so its on constantly while highway driving if i want it or would that not be a good idea electrical is no problem i love doing that kind of stuff

 

[velocitysport31]

you can wire a swich i think there is a mod that you can do near your ecu, you just ground one of the wires to a switch and it will turn the fans on. I like using spal's temp switch because you can have it come on at 185 and it will pretty much stay on all the time tell you turn your car off, it will stay on tell temps cool off. That way you don't for get to turn your fans on.

 

[Dsmj89]

It's funny how you keep bashing flex a lite fans and saying they are bad.
I have a friend who had the flex-a-lite dual fan setup with shrouds, and his car NEVER overheated, he had the dual setup plus an aluminum radiator and that's it.
It seems like only you had a bad experience with them.
I nonetheless am going flex a lite as i know they are great fans and have been proven over time with good cooling capabilities.

95whitegst, when you get the pusher fans, just wire them in to your ignition so as soon as your key is set to the "on" position, they will be always on.
Local DSM'er from down here runs it that way and it works great and looks cleaner.

 

[95whitegst]

this is true idk what kinda im going with yet 137 seems a little steep for a fan need to shop around look at some reviews and see where that takes me i might go with a 2 fan setup and get rid of the ac part in my car since i dont use it anyway and link the 2 fans together

 

[velocitysport31]

I'm not bashing them, I just don't recommend them for dsm's Ask road race engineering what they recommend and they will tell you spal is a better fan. And why would it look cleaner wiring it to the ignition. Its safer using a relay.

I wouldn't change your stock ac fan, it has a metal housing and will take the heat better specially if you plan on upgrading your turbo, and make sure your running heat shields. I live in the high desert with over 110 degree temps i tried a bunch of different fans including " flex a lite " and nothing worked tell i put the spal 13" there the best slim fans you can buy.

 

[95whitegst]

so rock 1 pusher 1 puller and then wire it to either a relay or the ignition? and i should be alright if this is the problem

 

[velocitysport31]

I just used one 13" and one 12" and i have had no cooling issues. Do not just wire to your ignition, you will overload the stock wiring use a relay and a switch. I used there relay with temp switch works great. Small price to pay to protect your investment. Here is a pic of my car i dont do anything half donkey.

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[95whitegst]

are your fans in front of the rad...good lookin engine bay btw and i plan on using a relay and switch i was just using both to save an arguement cause everyone has diff opinions

 

[jimmythesaint]

The general rule is this:

The general rule of thumb is:
If you are overheating while driving you have coolant issues. (fans are off)
If you are overheating while stopped you have airflow issues. (fans are on)

See your fans are automaticly shut off at a certain speed (prob 50 mph or so) because the volume of air being directed into the radiator at speed is greater than the fans can produce. So the fans shut off.

However, this can change when blocking the radiator with a Front Mount Intercooler. The fans still wont come on at speed since they are regulated, but you might not be getting enough airflow to the radiator since the FMIC is blocking it, thus causing the temps to rise.

Try a couple of things to fix.
1. Flush the coolant and replace the thermostat and radiator cap. No need to get a colder thermostat, thats just a bandaid not a fix. It only slows the bleeding, not stops it.

2. Ducting. There are several threads dedicated for how-to on directing air to your radiator. Here is one I like: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/245981-fmic-ducting.html

I went with both steps to solve my problem, cept I changed step 2 a bit and went my own route. I went to the junkyard and pulled and air scoop off a trans-am (tons of other cars have them) and put it on my car so it pulled air under the intercooler and forced it up to the radiator. I mounted it between the radiator and intercooler so it grabbed cool air that was traveling under the car and forced it up into the radiator. This completly solved my highway speed heat issues. Yeah it scrapes a bit when going over speed bumps, but its better than blowing the head.

 

[velocitysport31]

Mine are pullers there wasn't enough room in front if you want a 12" or larger fan you could do a 10 pusher witch i was going to do if the 13" didn't work. As far as opinions i know everyone has them you do what you think is best for you. I live in the desert near Vegas so i get extreme heat. I haven't had any issues since. Also there is some foam you can get at home depot to seal your condenser against your radiator which will help with the air getting to your radiator.

 

[95whitegst]

thanks for everything guys i think im gonna grab some fans make some ducting get rid of the ac condenser and hopefully that should make it all work!

 

[velocitysport31]

The general rule is this:

The general rule of thumb is:
If you are overheating while driving you have coolant issues. (fans are off)
If you are overheating while stopped you have airflow issues. (fans are on)

See your fans are automaticly shut off at a certain speed (prob 50 mph or so) because the volume of air being directed into the radiator at speed is greater than the fans can produce. So the fans shut off.

However, this can change when blocking the radiator with a Front Mount Intercooler. The fans still wont come on at speed since they are regulated, but you might not be getting enough airflow to the radiator since the FMIC is blocking it, thus causing the temps to rise.

Try a couple of things to fix.
1. Flush the coolant and replace the thermostat and radiator cap. No need to get a colder thermostat, thats just a bandaid not a fix. It only slows the bleeding, not stops it.

2. Ducting. There are several threads dedicated for how-to on directing air to your radiator. Here is one I like: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/turbo-system-tech/245981-fmic-ducting.html

I went with both steps to solve my problem, cept I changed step 2 a bit and went my own route. I went to the junkyard and pulled and air scoop off a trans-am (tons of other cars have them) and put it on my car so it pulled air under the intercooler and forced it up to the radiator. I mounted it between the radiator and intercooler so it grabbed cool air that was traveling under the car and forced it up into the radiator. This completly solved my highway speed heat issues. Yeah it scrapes a bit when going over speed bumps, but its better than blowing the head.

I totally agree with the ducting, I did a little with the radiator and condensor but I didn't have time to to build an elaborate ducting like the guy in that thread although it is a nice set up since i put the 13" spal with a there relay and 180 temp switch i had no more issues. And Fans do help if there on while driving ive never heard of fans turning off at 50 mph on a 2g the computer turns them on automatically at a certain temp regardless of speed.

 

[95whitegst]

i think im just going to get rid of the condenser all together that way the air isnt restricted a second time after passing through the front mount just let all the air go straight to the rad