PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Hey everyone, haven't been on much lately, but that's a story for a lounge post once all the dust in my life settles a bit...

My current issue I'm trying to correct is that the cooling fans on my 96 SUCK. In traffic with a 180* stat and reprogrammed fans it will still get over 200*. I've noticed this on a couple 92-99s, including another 96 SSEi. What should I look for in an aftermarket fan set? Pusher or puller? Ideally I'll use a dual fan setup and factory wiring/controls. How would I go about that with wiring in an aftermarket setup? I want them to work like factory fans do, with the PCM and AC override etc. I'll also need a low profile fan setup because of my headers getting in the way. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm pretty interested in the results on this too. My LeSabre tends to hit about 205-210 in stop and go traffic, even with the 180 tstat, but then again It's been hovering around 100 degrees here lately. But still, I'm interested in some cooling alternatives as well. I wonder if it's just something weird about the 92-99s that makes them run a bit hotter?

How about 2000+ fans? Not sure how realistic that is at all, but my car never sees over 190 even when it's 95 degrees out with the AC running.

I was thinking of retrofitting the 00+ fans, because the limo never got a tick over 190 on the hottest day. But my concern is the thickness of said fans clearing my front header. I'll do some measuring at the next opportunity.

It's been nearly 90 here a lot too, but it gets hot even on a 65* day.

I know it wouldn't solve the fan issue Will, but since you have HPTuners, have you thought about dropping to a 160 thermostat, then changing it out for the winter so it doesn't get too cold?

Are you sure this is a problem with the fans? I'd be guessing plugged up tubes in the radiator. The temp gauge in the cluster is also not as accurate as you might think.

I've verified the accuracy of the dash gauge. Til it stopped working this morning. It's either the water pump or the fans, likely the fans cause Ryan's 96 does this same thing.

One way to know for sure is to check that each of the tubes on the radiator is evenly heated before it gets to 150, so you don't burn a hand checking. Mine has the '98 fans on it, the mounts are half broke, but the only time the temp gets above 180 is idling with the A/C on and even then it doesn't get past 190.

You could always rig up just about any fan to work or run dual 2-speed fans. Junkyard picking to save money of course.

SSEiMan01 wrote:Hey everyone, haven't been on much lately, but that's a story for a lounge post once all the dust in my life settles a bit...

My current issue I'm trying to correct is that the cooling fans on my 96 SUCK. In traffic with a 180* stat and reprogrammed fans it will still get over 200*. I've noticed this on a couple 92-99s, including another 96 SSEi. What should I look for in an aftermarket fan set? Pusher or puller? Ideally I'll use a dual fan setup and factory wiring/controls. How would I go about that with wiring in an aftermarket setup? I want them to work like factory fans do, with the PCM and AC override etc. I'll also need a low profile fan setup because of my headers getting in the way. Anyone have any suggestions?

My Bonneville is set up with a 200 stat but I also live it North Dakota but if mine runs at 200 I dont see any problem with yours running at that Temp for a as long as needed. I know a cooler engine is a better engine but mine has ran at 200 degrees on 100 degree days and it stays at 200 so I think you shall be fine at that temp. My 1992 bonneville had a temp stat of 190 and it stayed at 190 but the series 2 3800 are set for 200 temp

I know it can take it, but it still makes me nervous nonetheless. Because in heavy traffic on a hot day it can climb north of 220, it's done it from day one the entire time I've owned it. I've verified the gauge accuracy with a couple different code readers with live data as well as HPT.

I'm probably going to roll this project into my big ball of stuff to do on this car and ponder it in the meantime, whether I can pull off a semi-OE setup space wise or not...

I had this problem after my water pump belt busted once and after I replaced it, it would get close to the red in traffic. Years later (2 months ago) I put in the ZZP oversized radiator ($299) and now it stays right about 190-200. Still have the stock fans. I'm pretty happy with it but I wonder if it was just clogged tubes in the radiator like MattStrike said.

Quick question for you guys...

96 was a mixed year.. some 96 SSEi's had HD cooling... 97 on this was not an option..

In some of the SSEi's you could have had a 5/8 core radiator.. If you had the HD it was more like 1-5/16.... Big difference there..

Will I'm not sure whats going on, but with my 1.25" core radiator and my 180 T Stat and my turn on at 195 and turn off at 185 I still don't see the engine get hot even with it in the 90's here..

Jfridge92 wrote:I'm pretty interested in the results on this too. My LeSabre tends to hit about 205-210 in stop and go traffic, even with the 180 tstat, but then again It's been hovering around 100 degrees here lately. But still, I'm interested in some cooling alternatives as well. I wonder if it's just something weird about the 92-99s that makes them run a bit hotter?

Joe for us NA guys its all about size...LOL

The dinky stock radiator is just not enough.. The larger SSEi( 92-95 ) radiator does us a good justice.. But it also helps to have the fans come on earlier than 212 for low speed and 227 for high speed..

Will and I figured out that the last H bodies made( Buick Lucerne ) had an option for HD cooling.. Soon I will be ordering that radiator for my 03 and doing the hoses and water pump too.. The Lucerne used a 15/16 core as opposed to the 5/8 used in all 00+ Bonnevilles... Not sure what GM was thinking there, Freaking bean counters...lol

Champion makes 3 and 4 core H-body radiators that could be adapted as well for the '92-'99.

I may have to look into an ssei radiator then, I didn't realize the non supercharged models didn't get the HD cooling. Intense returned my fan Temps for the 180 tstat, not sure what they sat them at, but driving my wife to the airport today the car hovered around 205 on the highway, so I'm wondering if somethings still up.

Well Jeff, its possible that the core of the radiator could be having flow issues, the thermostat could be hanging and not opening completely.. Just a couple of thoughts..

I know with my Caddy V8 radiator My car never gets warm while cruising.. I run 181-182 pretty much all of the time.. I have an intense 180 Thermostat.. The water pump is at least 10 years old, The radiator is also 10 years old iirc.. The thermostat might be 4 or 5 years..

I may have a solution to our cooling woes, at least part of it. I'll elaborate soon.

I'll probably update the radiator when I put the car down to build it up here soonish. Definitely going to need it. Lol

If you're feeling adventurous you can move the external temp sensor around and have an accurate temp gauge. Just don't melt it. I put mine in the intake box, and I have a real time gauge of the intake air. This also helps avoid city mpg.

How does moving the external temp sensor have anything to do with the coolant temp? I think the new radiator will solve a lot of it. My 96 uesd to get hot like that too (around 225), I never did solve that though. But the highest I've ever seen in the GP is about 200 and that was sitting in traffic in 90 degree heat with the air on.