Stevo Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 So I got an 02' GTP in August and here it is almost 5 months later and I get a check engine light already (holy hell I hate winter). I was driving on the highway at lunchtime back to work and noticed that while on the highway the check engine light comes on and stays on. After a quick visual check I drove it for about 45km's before getting the codes fished out with an OBD2 Scan tool. The conditions at the time were cold ... like -17*C (2*F) before wind chill with light pack down but clear roads, just bloody cold as hell, the car had a 15-18min highway run one way stop for 5mins, run for 10mins then a 5min highway run before the code was tripped. Here is what I got. scan tool code P0128 -Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temp Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature) Fuel Sys 1 ...................... CL Calc LOAD (%) ................ 7.4 ECT (*C/*F) ................. 78/172 <<< !!! STFT B1 (%) ................. -2.3 LTFT B1 (%) .................. 1.5 MAP (kPa/inHg) ............... 45/13.2 Eng RPM ...................... 1909 <<< !!!! VVV Veh Speed (km/h[mph]) ... 113[70] (highway limit is 110kph) MAF (g/s[lb/min]) ........... 19.57[2.588] TPS (%) ........................ 5.0 So does this seem to be like a high water % to coolant issue or has my thermostat failed but failed in an open position because it does take a while for the car to heat up I have noticed and the smell is none too pleasant. I'm not familiar with Dexcool beyond the nightmares I have read about. But even still ... a 15+ minute highway run and the car is not pushing 78*C??? Anyone see something I am not seeing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Whats happening is that your car isn't getting up to normal running temperature after a certain amount of run time. Either a bad mixture of coolant/water, or your thermostat is stuck open. Coolant temperature sensor could be failing also, but much less likely, as you would have tons of other problems. It's pretty common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted January 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I'm going to get the coolant tested but at 134,000km/83,200miles isn't that a bit early for a coolant change? Yeah I agree with the other problems after the crap I went through with the 94' GP/SE I had. =x thnx for the input slickster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 Even though the cap on the dexcool says like 120,000 miles, or something redicuously high, I would still change it out every 60,000 miles. If you can do it yourself, you'll only spend like $30-$35, and an hour or two of your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted January 23, 2008 Report Share Posted January 23, 2008 I'm willing to bet your t-stat is stuck open. I know mine was the temp guage barely got of the 40ºC mark. Things like that happen, but they're only probably $15 to replace. I ended up putting in a 195ºF t-stat so when it's -40ºC here I still get heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted January 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Yep. Stuck thermostat. Got it replaced and flushed the system instead of purge and fill. Expensive but at least I wasn't outside in the dark -2*C weather with a flashlight on the ground. My car is a pig inside and out. God I wish winter was over. Canada has only 2 seasons. 6 months of really good and 6 months of really bad snowmobiling. =B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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