Over this last week my 96 Camry four banger has started to run hot.

I have changed the thermostat, water pump, the radiator is only a year old. The two heat sensors that are on the cooling system, the number one fan relay, and the car still runs hot about 3/4 from the bottom. I did find that the fans where not coming on, and found that its a heat sensor on the bottom of the radiator, I have that sensor on order.

What I did do was disconnect that and the fans are on all the time, but the car is still running hot.

Any ideas what this might be?

 

Is the engine actually running hot or the temp gauge just indicating hot?

 

That's what I'm starting to think, the gauge is malfunctioning. The car doesn't seem hot to me I can touch all the hoses and top of the radiator. If I open the cap carefully it isn't spouting out so I know its not overheating

 

Find a thermometer perhaps cooking type. Engine cold remove radiator cap and place it in the coolant. Start engine and let it warm up. Normal temp is something around 190F, the radiator fans start up around 199F

 

Thanks I read that on another thread and decided to give it a try. I'm having the temp sensor at the bottom of the radiator replaced, its failing and the fans are not coming on. Its currently disconnected so the fans run all the time. The shop I'm going to is a radiator specialist, they replaced to radiator last year.

 

Great, please post back with the results.

 

OK I just ran the test with the themo in the radiator cap open. Started at 52 degrees cold, and after idling for 20 plus minutes the temp was 195 to 199 and the temp gauge in the car was running at 3/4 just a tad off the red.

The T -stat that was just put in is a 82 C +/- 2 degress. I wonder if that's to hot a t-stat to run?

I know the water is flowing threw the system and the car is not overheating. at least at idle.

 

82C is 180F equals the correct T-stat for this engine.

The upper tank temps are good. The temp gauge should remain steady once the engine is warmed up even if idling and the fans are turning on and off. Thus even when the fans are cycling on/off the gauge still stays at the same position typically just below mid mark.

Would check the temp sensor.

 

It will stay in one place but the gauge reads at 3/4. Its going in tomorrow to have that temp sensor changed on the bottom of the radiator. I know that ones faulting. Where is the temp sensor you are speaking of.

 

Temp sensor location depends on engine model.

For 4 cylinder follow the upper radiator hose to the engine. Sensor is one of several on a pipe between head and hose. The gauge temp sensor has only one wire.