98layinframe Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 For the life of me i cant find the coolent temp sensor on my 98 3.8L monte.. where is this thing located? Reason im looking for it is the gauge on my dash never ever climbs to normal operation temperature and the cooling fans on the rad dont kick on unless i have the ac on. I already changed the thermostat out and the motor is reaching operating temps so theres something electrical wrong. Dont know if its normal or what, but also in the winter the heater never really gets all that hot and the car takes forever to warm up. Maybe something else going on here? Also noticed just the other day it started doing it, but when the car is first started the change oil light is on for a about 30 seconds then goes off. OK, no big deal, changed the oil even though it only had 2K miles on it... well the light still comes on when the car is started. Any ideas there? thanks in advance for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruktosk Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 (edited) I think the CTS should be around the coolant outlet. Aroundabout where your thermostat is. The Change Oil light can be reset. There should be a button somewhere on the bottom side of the dash. Push and hold it and the Change Oil should flash a couple of times to let you know it's been reset. Edited September 11, 2010 by ruktosk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruktosk Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 See this diagram Part 501 on the diagram. It's on the LIM below the outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 1. 3800 1.5 gens are NOTORIOUS for 'not warming up fully'. I have a monte z34 that does the same thing, and I know of several other members with the same problem and no one has figured it out. 2. There is no button to reset, its a combo type thing. I think you have to put the gas pedal to the floor 3 times while the ignition is on, but not running obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruktosk Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 2. There is no button to reset, its a combo type thing. I think you have to put the gas pedal to the floor 3 times while the ignition is on, but not running obviously. Oh right. The button is for the tire pressure sensors. My bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 here's the procedure to get the oil change light off: key on-engine off: fully press and release the accelerator 3 times within 5 seconds. if the light blinks twice, it's reset, if it just comes on and stays on for 5 seconds, try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98layinframe Posted September 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 thanks for the replys guys, well found the coolent sensor and replaced it... still no luck nothing different. Also found and did the oil reset procedure.. atleast that worked. Ok for the guys that the car doesnt warm up fully.. do your cooling fans still come on? Mine dont do a damn thing unless i turn the ac on, then they both start working. Im just worried about sitting in traffic and the stupid thing over heating or some shit since the fans wont work. Dont know if its worth it to take the thing to a stealership to be diagnosed or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 Well has it ever warmed up past the half way mark? That's when the fans kick on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 Just let it run a good long while until it hits the middle of the gauge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98layinframe Posted September 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 I've never seen the gauge rise up to the middle of the gauge... even after 2 hours of constant driving. Today after replacing the coolant sensor I started and let the car run for a good 10 mins, the guage only started to rise a little bit so I took it for a couple mile drive. Along the side of the road i stopped and popped the hood, the upper rad hose was quite warm and the motor itself seemed warmed by just holding my hand close to it. Drove back home and let it idle some more, the gauge maybe rose to a 10 o'clock position on the gauge (most normal cars operate at with the needle at a 12 o'clock position) which is a little higher then it normally ever does, but still no fans kicking on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 Just let it idle. See how high the needle gets. Driving keeps the engine cool so just let it idle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98layinframe Posted September 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 yeah.. thats whats im worried about the most. If something is wrong with the gauge or electronics, just letting it sit there and over heat doesn't sound like fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruktosk Posted September 12, 2010 Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 You'll have to sit and watch it. Or let it sit at idle and check on it every few minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted September 12, 2010 Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 yeah.. thats whats im worried about the most. If something is wrong with the gauge or electronics, just letting it sit there and over heat doesn't sound like fun. The fans kick on at the half way point, I doubt there is anything wrong with your gauges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted September 12, 2010 Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 i've seen very few borked 95-99 MC clusters.... but you could always do a resistance test on the coolant temp sensor to get a good idea of what the guage should say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtuetovice Posted September 12, 2010 Report Share Posted September 12, 2010 Yea let it idle for a good 20 mins. By then it should be to the halfway point. If the fans kick in at that point all is well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 My 03 GP gauge only goes to the 1/4 mark, never to the halfway mark at all... but with a scantool, I check and my engine was running at 195 degrees... The fans dont kick on till 220... I dont believe you have a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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