Water Temp Goes to zero, radiator fans on

Whiterocket · 10-10-2023, 09:58 PM

I have had this intermittent problem happen twice now. The water temp gage goes all the way down but the radiator fans are on. My 2016 2SS gives no other indication it is running hot. Coolant levels are fine. Seems like a coolant temp sensor malfunction where gage gets no signal and fans think the engine is overheated. Also not throwing a diagnostic code. Any ideas?

*Joshinator99* · 10-11-2023, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiterocket

I have had this intermittent problem happen twice now. The water temp gage goes all the way down but the radiator fans are on. My 2016 2SS gives no other indication it is running hot. Coolant levels are fine. Seems like a coolant temp sensor malfunction where gage gets no signal and fans think the engine is overheated. Also not throwing a diagnostic code. Any ideas?

That happened to me. I had a sensor unplugged (and it was not the coolant sensor…!).

Yang N’ Bang · 10-11-2023, 07:56 AM

Common issue, 9 times out of 10 it’s either a stuck thermostat or the sensor.

ctrlz · 10-11-2023, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yang N’ Bang

Common issue, 9 times out of 10 it’s either a stuck thermostat or the sensor.

yes. there are several old threads on this problem.

Drizzt ss · 10-11-2023, 01:35 PM

Katech sells a stock thermostat so you don’t have to buy the whole housing.

Bumbleboy92 · 10-11-2023, 02:14 PM

If you’re lazy like I was you can keep doing this

Hyperion · 10-11-2023, 04:15 PM

As others have stated it's most likely the thermostat is stuck open or temp sensor is bad. They're cheap on Amazon and very easy to change. Might have to disconnect negative battery terminal briefly to reset the computer after changing.

Whiterocket · 10-15-2023, 01:11 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'll check into the sensor first to make sure it is plugged in properly. Then I might just change it with and AC Delco as they are priced rather competitively.

The Maverick · 10-15-2023, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumbleboy92

If you’re lazy like I was you can keep doing this

I am lazier than you - I would just clear the diagnostic code that accompanies these intermittent symptoms! 😉

grampa_ss · 10-15-2023, 04:48 PM

This just happened to me. Replaced thermostat...problem has not returned.

VJChevelle67 · 07-24-2024, 03:42 PM

I had have the same problem as well , seems like something is loose because it does not happen all the time. did the battery disconect once and it worked . looked at gettjng a new stat but i dont think that is the problem .. the car is not over heating at all. were is the temp senor does anyone know. 2 SS v8 6.2

Bumbleboy92 · 07-24-2024, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJChevelle67

I had have the same problem as well , seems like something is loose because it does not happen all the time. did the battery disconect once and it worked . looked at gettjng a new stat but i dont think that is the problem .. the car is not over heating at all. were is the temp senor does anyone know. 2 SS v8 6.2

This issue doesn’t cause the car to overheat, it just loses reading of coolant temperature and puts the car into fail safe to protect the engine from overheating since it doesn’t have coolant temperature data.

This is either a coolant sensor gone bad or thermostat stuck, more often it’s the thermostat

easttxss · 07-25-2024, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumbleboy92

it just loses reading of coolant temperature and puts the car into fail safe to protect the engine from overheating since it doesn’t have coolant temperature data.

The code definition that is associated with this symptom is that the engine is not warming up as fast as the computer thinks it should. So it drops the gauge and turns on the fans so that you see that there is an issue. The fans COULD be a fail safe, but could also be an attention getter, since they run for about 10 minutes after you shut the car off. Once you clear the code, it will return to normal operation until the next time the fault occurs.

Texas1ss · 07-25-2024, 08:19 PM

I had the same problem. The temp gauge would peg to zero, I'd lose AC, rev match, and when my car turned off the fan kept running.

Like others in here I just pulled the negative battery cable for a good while before I fixed it. As soon as I pulled the cable, popped it back on, problem solved, and it was fine. The thermostat was stuck open.

I could tell by when it was running fine the temp gauge wasn't around 190, which is where it should be. It wouldn't ever get up there.

Finally changed the thermostat, and I haven't had the problem since then.

10-10-2023, 09:58 PM	#1
Whiterocket Drives: 2016 2SS White w/blk whls, MRC, 6sp Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 35	Water Temp Goes to zero, radiator fans on I have had this intermittent problem happen twice now. The water temp gage goes all the way down but the radiator fans are on. My 2016 2SS gives no other indication it is running hot. Coolant levels are fine. Seems like a coolant temp sensor malfunction where gage gets no signal and fans think the engine is overheated. Also not throwing a diagnostic code. Any ideas?

10-11-2023, 01:35 PM	#5
Drizzt ss Drives: 2017 NGM 1SS MRC NPP Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Long Island Posts: 234	Katech sells a stock thermostat so you don’t have to buy the whole housing. __________________ Mamo PTB /Borla ATAK NPP /Carbon Fiber lip/ZL1 side skirts/ Black Bow ties/Husky Mats/ Mishimoto CC /BMR strut tower brace/ZL-1 License relocation/Rock guards

10-15-2023, 04:48 PM	#10
grampa_ss Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Stansbury Park, Utah Posts: 1,102	This just happened to me. Replaced thermostat...problem has not returned. __________________ 2016 2SS, MRC, NPP, A8. Procharger P-1X,Stage II,std bypass, 3.9, Alky Meth - 10.84 @129 - DA+2000 New Mods - GPI drop ins, Kooks 2", LT4 fueling, Cam, Circle D Converter, 3.5 pulley & dual nozzle meth.

07-24-2024, 03:42 PM	#11
VJChevelle67 The Beast Drives: 2016 2SS Camaro Convertible Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Canada Posts: 148 View My Garage	Temp issue I had have the same problem as well , seems like something is loose because it does not happen all the time. did the battery disconect once and it worked . looked at gettjng a new stat but i dont think that is the problem .. the car is not over heating at all. were is the temp senor does anyone know. 2 SS v8 6.2

10-11-2023, 07:56 AM	#3
Yang N’ Bang 17’ Hyper Blue 2SS Drives: 17’ Camaro 2SS Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 225 View My Garage	Common issue, 9 times out of 10 it’s either a stuck thermostat or the sensor.

10-11-2023, 04:15 PM	#7
Hyperion Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 40	As others have stated it's most likely the thermostat is stuck open or temp sensor is bad. They're cheap on Amazon and very easy to change. Might have to disconnect negative battery terminal briefly to reset the computer after changing.

10-15-2023, 01:11 PM	#8
Whiterocket Drives: 2016 2SS White w/blk whls, MRC, 6sp Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 35	Thanks for the replies. I'll check into the sensor first to make sure it is plugged in properly. Then I might just change it with and AC Delco as they are priced rather competitively.

07-25-2024, 08:19 PM	#14
Texas1ss Drives: 2016 Black 1SS, M6, NPP, Mag Ride Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Houston Posts: 183	I had the same problem. The temp gauge would peg to zero, I'd lose AC, rev match, and when my car turned off the fan kept running. Like others in here I just pulled the negative battery cable for a good while before I fixed it. As soon as I pulled the cable, popped it back on, problem solved, and it was fine. The thermostat was stuck open. I could tell by when it was running fine the temp gauge wasn't around 190, which is where it should be. It wouldn't ever get up there. Finally changed the thermostat, and I haven't had the problem since then.

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