I thought maybe the engine cooling fan failed again, but maybe not
I just got back from an arrand into the city, and got concerned that maybe the engine cooling fan had failed again.
With my reprogrammed PCM, my engine coolant temperature gauge normally does not ever rise above 210, but this afternoon it started rising above that whenever I was stopped and idling, hitting the end of the "0" in the "210" label, and maybe a bit beyond.
This looks like the same synmptoms I had when the high-speed failed and only the low speed was working on the fan.
But, when I got home I checked the actual ambient air temperature on the web. In Austin right now it is 106 degrees!! (That's one hundred and SIX, yes)
So, maybe the SSR is entitled to a bit of extra slack today . . .
My SSR: 2004 Ultra Violet #11012 born on 04 June 2004
It's been over 100 the past few days here in the High Desert...w/AC recirculating the hasn't gone over 210 at idle...but haven't had a long wait at a stop for a while...keeping my fingers crossed since everyone w/fan issues seem to have it more than once
Austin peaked at 108 degrees today - a full 20 degrees above normal highs for this time in September, and shattering the previous record by 11 degrees.
My SSR: Originally Smokin Asphalt 03 #00099 now kustom graphics, tu-tone Kandy Lime Green/Pearl White
Acting Up
Mine acted up once while we were at a parade. Had the SSR in drive waiting in line (foot on brake of course) and everything seemed fine. After waitng for about four minutes I set it in park to wait. When the line started moving I shifted back into drive and looked at the temp gage, holy smokes 260!!, I noticed that as soon as I put it in drive them temp started going down, so crisis was averted.
Had the dealer check the fan out andit acted up fro them so they are trying to order a new fan. Gave them all the info from this web site, and will have to see when it arrives.
__________________
Go fast till you see GOD, THEN HIT THE BRAKES!!!!
My SSR kept overheating up to 260 a few times... Everytime I went to the dealer they could not get it to do the same thing... One dealer in SC let it run for four hours and it did not overheat... I finally was near a dealer in Dallas when it happened and took it in and showed them... The dealer is Frank Parra Chevrolet in Irving, TX and when I picked it up they told me that there was history in their computer showing that there is a problem with our SSRs and the fan not turning on sometimes when it is supposed to... They said that they had corrected the problem per Chevrolet's instructions... That was a month or two ago and living in Texas, especially this year, we are still hitting 100 everyday and my car can set in traffic and has never gone over 210 since... My email address is ed@freedomgrill.com if you would like to contact Frank Parra and find out what they did I will give you my invoice number for the job...
Ed...
972-679-6216
From Th Earizona Eagle. I Found The Fix From Gm For Poor A/c Performance
I NEED HELP IN ENTERING A NEW POSTED MESSAGE
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGnitecki
I just got back from an arrand into the city, and got concerned that maybe the engine cooling fan had failed again.
With my reprogrammed PCM, my engine coolant temperature gauge normally does not ever rise above 210, but this afternoon it started rising above that whenever I was stopped and idling, hitting the end of the "0" in the "210" label, and maybe a bit beyond.
This looks like the same synmptoms I had when the high-speed failed and only the low speed was working on the fan.
But, when I got home I checked the actual ambient air temperature on the web. In Austin right now it is 106 degrees!! (That's one hundred and SIX, yes)
So, maybe the SSR is entitled to a bit of extra slack today . . .
Jim, I Need Some Help.. How Do You Post A New Message?? I Have The General Motors Repair Bulletin ,part #, And Fix For Poor A/c Performance For Ssr's, But Don't Know How To Post The Message..help!!
Are there any symptoms besides rising temps for you guys that have had failures? Mine so far stays at or below 210 - but my fan started making a buzzing sound at 10k, really noticeable when on high...
psychoslaphead: The only symptom reported up to now has been the coolant temperature reading. Your "buzzing" is the first I have heard about.
There is one possibility to check out.
When my cooling fan failed in Santa Fe, the GM mechanic replaced it, but mislocated the coolant HOSE that normally sits on a ledge near the top of the radiator assembly. He had that hose unsupported and hanging in a manner that allowed the fan to brush it as the fan rotated! Reese at MTI Racing picked up the error when I returned there for the camshaft swap. Fortunately, the contact in my case was too lsight to damage the hose (it "polished" the surface of the hose a bit at one point). If your hose has similarly bee mislocated, lift it back onto its support ledge and see if the buzzing disappears.
If it does not, I suspect that the electronic speed control built into the fan assembly is unhappy, and unhappiness is often followed by failure.
Boosted: Depends where your dealer ordered from. If from a warehouse or other dealer, he would have gotten it quickly, but would have gotten the OLD fan design that will just fail again. If he ordered direct from GM, might be backordered because the new fan might not yet be available in large numbers.
The new design has a higher duty cycle and also is more resistant to dust.
Location: Suffolk County, Long Island, NY, North Shore
Posts: 32
My SSR: 2004, prototype purple, crome wheels, 500HP? or close
HEY ALL YOU OVERHEATING SSR OWNERS ..... GOOD NEWS!!
I FOUND A COMPANY THAT WILL BUILD YOU A PROFESSIONAL 2X1"WIDE CORE ALUMINUM RACING GRADE RADIATORS, BELOW AM EMAIL FROM THEM TO ME:
We already build a radiator for the '04 SSR but we cannot build it in 1
week. We have a 3-4 week lead time right now.
Part # 1-16SSR05 = $695.00 plus shipping.
(Embedded image moved to file: pic17981.jpg)
Thank You,
Tim Crosby
Ron Davis Racing Products, Inc. www.rondavisradiators.com
7334 North 108th Avenue
Glendale, AZ. 85307
TEL - 623-877-5000 ext. 3
FAX - 623-877-5001
HEY ALL YOU OVERHEATING SSR OWNERS ..... GOOD NEWS!!
I FOUND A COMPANY THAT WILL BUILD YOU A PROFESSIONAL 2X1"WIDE CORE ALUMINUM RACING GRADE RADIATORS, BELOW AM EMAIL FROM THEM TO ME:
We already build a radiator for the '04 SSR but we cannot build it in 1
week. We have a 3-4 week lead time right now.
Part # 1-16SSR05 = $695.00 plus shipping.
(Embedded image moved to file: pic17981.jpg)
Thank You,
Tim Crosby
Ron Davis Racing Products, Inc. www.rondavisradiators.com
7334 North 108th Avenue
Glendale, AZ. 85307
TEL - 623-877-5000 ext. 3
FAX - 623-877-5001
WHEN YOU CALL TIM PLEASE MENTION PAUL SENT YOU ....... HAVE FUN WITH YOUR SSR's
PAUL (paulny) (paul.hoversen@sunysb.edu
paulny -- I ordered one last Friday from Ron Davis along with a 16" Spohl fan (3000cfm). As you say it will take 3 - 4 weeks to get here. Will advise when I install.
I had my fan replaced by GM because my SSR was getting up to 260 degrees Fahrenheit. The new fan is definitely noiser thatn the old fan. Now in traffic the temperature has only gotten up to 235 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an improvement but it is not the 210 degree Fahrenheit that you guys routinely see. In my opinion it still seems to run uncomfortably close to the redline position.
Anyway, it really makes me wonder how Chevy ever passed the long distance drive test. I thought that the SSR was supposed to be driven up and down hills towing a specific weight and was supposed to be tested over an extended period of time.
Surely, this overheating/high temperature condition must have shown up. Did they really perform the testing? Did they only qualify the SSR by similarity to the Trail Blazer (that is when you get to skip doing some testing and use the testing that was done on something else as justification of your design. This can only be done if the designs are sufficiently similar to warrant the acceptance of the other articles test results)?
How did this high temperture and overheating come about and not be known before approval for saile?
I endorse the idea of a better fan, but I'm not so sure about the radiator.
The problem in the SSR is that a normal amount of heat (the LM4 and LS2 engines both are used in other GM vehicles without overheating problems) cannot be adequately dissispated in the SSR.
To get adequate dissipation, two things have to occur:
1. The radiator has to transfer the heat to the air around it and being passed through it
2. That heated air has to be removed as fast as it is generated. If it is not, it impedes the ability of the radiator to continue to transfer more heat, because the rate of transfer is proportonal to the difference in temperature between the coolant within the radiator and the air around it.
I think number 2 has been proven to be a problem, and I am simply waiting for someone to report on a replacement fan that has the required flow rate, duty cycle, long term reliability, easeo f installation, and cost.
I think it is premature to conclude that 1. is a problem.
Furthermore, even if you get a REALLY good radiator and really good heat transfer there, if that heat is not removed from the area of the radiator AND from the underhood area, it is all in vain. Because of the shape, tightness, and airflow of the SSR engine compartment, a more effective air MOVEMENT system is required. We may not need a better radiator.
I am almost finished prototyping the add-on pusher fan. It mounts in front of the condenser without touching the fins. The control box mounts on the passenger side of engine compartment and senses radiator temp from the fins right next to the water inlet to the radiator. Bench testing of the control circuit was successful and I am currently waiting for the special wiring connections to break into the existing harnesses and a replacement polyethylene air dam that is better looking and needs to be part of the kit.
The critical design requirements were:
1) The fan come on any time "low" speed is commanded. This will aid in the air conditioning efficiency.
2) The fan will come on any time the radiator inlet temperature is above 200F (adjustable set point on the control box). This will assist in any overheating issues that could be mitigated with additional airflow (like stop and go traffic) and provide a safety backup in case of a main fan failure.
3) The fan will operate thermostatically regardless of engine on or off. This will dump the residual heat out of the cooling system and decrease the horrible thermal soak-back we experience with this truck.
4) No wiring will be spliced. This is done by piggy-backing the system into the existing wiring with special connections.
5) No holes will be drilled. This is done by using existing hardware attachment points to add the parts to the truck.
I am satisfied that all of the design requirements were met and the kit will be a drop-in that looks like it is supposed to be there. Harnesses are inside standard nylon wire looms and tucked away neatly.
This fits my '05 and I am going to have an '03-'04 owner here in Phoenix put it on his truck to test the instructions and fit.
The kit is not yet ready for "production", but it is close enough to start talking about building 10 or so in November for lead-the-fleet testing of how well it works. The LTF volunteers need to 1) use their trucks daily 2) be mechanically inclined and 3) analytical enough to give me constructive feedback. Also important in the LTF group is that they be aware of exactly how their truck currently behaves with the existing system..... back to back comparison is needed in the feedback.
The second phase of this process is to replace the existing fan with one that has a full shroud. I have that unit in the corner of my shop, waiting its turn. It has to take second priority, as this add-on is by far the most needed fix.
I'll post photos of the install after I get through with the test fitment on the 2003-04 here.
This is looking good,
Mike
__________________ Trust and Generosity are contagious.
What is weird is how some people have the problem and some don't. I've got my fingers crossed, but I've never seen mine above 210 no matter how much I abuse it, ambient temp, etc. The fans must have been marginal or even defective out of the box on some vehicles.
I am almost finished prototyping the add-on pusher fan. It mounts in front of the condenser without touching the fins. The control box mounts on the passenger side of engine compartment and senses radiator temp from the fins right next to the water inlet to the radiator. Bench testing of the control circuit was successful and I am currently waiting for the special wiring connections to break into the existing harnesses and a replacement polyethylene air dam that is better looking and needs to be part of the kit.
The critical design requirements were:
1) The fan come on any time "low" speed is commanded. This will aid in the air conditioning efficiency.
2) The fan will come on any time the radiator inlet temperature is above 200F (adjustable set point on the control box). This will assist in any overheating issues that could be mitigated with additional airflow (like stop and go traffic) and provide a safety backup in case of a main fan failure.
3) The fan will operate thermostatically regardless of engine on or off. This will dump the residual heat out of the cooling system and decrease the horrible thermal soak-back we experience with this truck.
4) No wiring will be spliced. This is done by piggy-backing the system into the existing wiring with special connections.
5) No holes will be drilled. This is done by using existing hardware attachment points to add the parts to the truck.
I am satisfied that all of the design requirements were met and the kit will be a drop-in that looks like it is supposed to be there. Harnesses are inside standard nylon wire looms and tucked away neatly.
This fits my '05 and I am going to have an '03-'04 owner here in Phoenix put it on his truck to test the instructions and fit.
The kit is not yet ready for "production", but it is close enough to start talking about building 10 or so in November for lead-the-fleet testing of how well it works. The LTF volunteers need to 1) use their trucks daily 2) be mechanically inclined and 3) analytical enough to give me constructive feedback. Also important in the LTF group is that they be aware of exactly how their truck currently behaves with the existing system..... back to back comparison is needed in the feedback.
The second phase of this process is to replace the existing fan with one that has a full shroud. I have that unit in the corner of my shop, waiting its turn. It has to take second priority, as this add-on is by far the most needed fix.
I'll post photos of the install after I get through with the test fitment on the 2003-04 here.
This is looking good,
Mike
Mike,
I am willing to be part of the test even though the vehicle is not a daily driver. It is a specialty vehicle.
The kit is not yet ready for "production", but it is close enough to start talking about building 10 or so in November for lead-the-fleet testing of how well it works. The LTF volunteers need to 1) use their trucks daily 2) be mechanically inclined and 3) analytical enough to give me constructive feedback. Also important in the LTF group is that they be aware of exactly how their truck currently behaves with the existing system..... back to back comparison is needed in the feedback.
mikem, I will be glad to be part of the LTF volunteers with my '03, just let me know..............................................................................Tom
I am willing to be part of the test even though the vehicle is not a daily driver. It is a specialty vehicle.
E
Orange SSR
ECurtis,
Please drop me a PM with your usage estimate through November and December. I will need to have feedback before January 1st, as I will be ordering a bucket of parts to build kits after that. I'll discuss LTF terms on PM with you.
Regards,
Mike
__________________ Trust and Generosity are contagious.
mikem, I will be glad to be part of the LTF volunteers with my '03, just let me know..............................................................................Tom
Roadster,
We have already covered enough details on PM. I'll put you on the list to get one of the first kits.
Mike
__________________ Trust and Generosity are contagious.
Craig here,
I just wanted to share that my 03 has been operating normally since the dealer fixed it when I picked it up.Let me Clarify. The dealer killed the battery demonstrating the covertable top and apparently boost started the thing blowing the fan fuse,left it idleing outside to charge up and let the damned thig cook off the coolant all over the place.The only reason I know this is because my little brother just happened to be stopping by to check it out and turned the key off.He then went inside to tell the blind sales staff that this was going on under their noses and that it would be a good idea to take care of this before I got there.They replaced the fuse and the ruined hood blanket,cleaned it up and sent me on my way.Of corse I was very upset that this happened to my baby,but after about an hour, they had me conviced that all would be ok.
Anyway, since then and now I havn"t had a problem Knock on wood.
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hasn't gone over 210 at idle...but haven't had a long wait at a stop for a while...keeping my fingers crossed since everyone w/fan issues seem to have it more than once 
E 
Linear Mode
