I am driving around in 110F heat with lots of stop in go traffic and AC is on full blast. The temps will start to rise when I am at a long light or in slow traffic. Only way to get the temp to go down is to turn on the heater or get on the freeway. The gauge has never gone into the red though.


I have noticed the Auxiliary Fan only turns on when the AC is on. Does not turn on when the AC is off. Is that normal?

 

I went through this same thing last summer. I'd guess that your coolant is at 200 degrees.

When you're all the way towards the red, but not on it, the coolant will be 216F. That's the highest I've ever seen it on my 96.

I think 230 is when things get bad.

Until your needle goes over to red, I think you're fine. If you want to be sure, you'll need a laser thermometer, or just plug something into your OB2 plug to read what your car is reading.

I thought that the auxiliary fan comes on when the thermostat tells it to, not necessarily when the AC is running, although there is a mod to make the car do just that. Run when either the thermostat tells it to, or when the AC is on. (search archives for auxiliary fan mod)

 

These are the Temps I am getting from the past several days. When gauge at the "N" Coolant is at 195F. 228F is the highest i've seen, but the gauge has never been into the red. I have noticed that the AC is effecting the temps because if I start the car from cold without AC on then drive in the stop and go traffic the gauge never goes leaves the "N". Soon as I turn on the AC the gauge will leave the "N".

 

The auxiliary fan does not turn on when the AC is off. Only time I've seen the the auxiliary fan turn off and on is at night when the AC is on and the car is idling.