Hello everyone, I'm new here. I've searched the existing threads and can't find anyone who is having a similar problem as I am.

I've had my 2005 crossfire since 2008 and it recently start running hot. The temperature in the Los Angeles area has been getting over 100+ degrees. My ambient temperature sensor will at times read between 5 and ~30 degrees hotter than the local weather reports. When I pull over, I can feel the hot air being pushed out of the lower part of the grill for a few feet.

I suspect that the ambient temperature sensor is working correctly and something is causing an excessive amount of heat to come from engine compartment, causing the guage to read much hotter than the outside.

About the same time as all of this, my car is also overheating when a load is applied. If I turn on the AC or am going up a hill, it seems to push the needle up toward the red. This morning, the outside actual temperature was mid- to hi- eighties and it started to overheat (without running the AC) as I was going up hill on the freeway (75mph, 6th gear).

It only happens when it's hot and there is an extra load. e.g. up hill, air conditioning. When it does happen, I can turn on the heater and the engine temperature comes down quickly.

The engine seems to be running smooth. There does not seem to be any moisture/coolant in the exhaust. The gas mileage has not changed since I've had the car. So, I have no reason to believe that there are any engine problems.

The oil was changed (mobile 1 synth) a couple of months ago. The coolant fan replaced about a month ago because the fan blades were actually warped. I put in a new thermastat a week ago.

What's my next step? Coolant flush? Ambient Temperature Sensor test/replacement?

Phillip Givens
2005 Crossfire Convertible LTD

 

Sounds like your stat which is on the engine, at the top where the hose goes in. Id see if the water is circulating by pinching the hot hose with a gloved hand to see if there is pressure there. Top on the overflow LOOSE so there is no static pressure. Stats are easy to change, srt is different than others though. Woody

 

Is the radiator cooling fan running?

BTW-there was a "Campaign" for replacement of the cooling fan assembly. You can call Chrysler and with your VIN they can tell you if the work was ever performed.

http://www.chrysler.com/webselfservi...sler/index.jsp

 

That was my first thought as well.

Your electrical connector may be disconnected or loose. As you face the engine bay from the front the connector should be on the right side of the fan shroud. Check it to see if it is loose or disconnected or frayed in anyway. That may be the simplest starting point.

 

I agree that the fan may not be working since it does it with the A/C as well, start your car and see if the fan comes on after you turn on your A/C it should come on within a few, after you have checked to make sure your connections are connected, also make sure your fan connector is fully engaged there has been some that look like there pluged in but not fully seated and not allowing the fan to work.

 

Thank you everyone for the replies.

Waldig, if "stat" means "thermostat", I changed it last week. Is it possible that I may have damaged the new one before/during installation? And I don't know what an "overflow LOOSE" is.

Maxcichon, the radiator cooling fan is running. I replaced the whole assembly about a month ago when the fan blades were warped. The back story on that is that the screws holding the fan in the assembly went missing. This caused the fan to shake until I was able to fix it. By then, Los Angeles had gone through a hot spell. I suspect that the combination of a shaking fan and an extreme heat wave caused the fan blades to warp. I replaced it with an assembly from Pep Boys. Am I correct in assuming that they would have the correct assembly?

Zahanma, the fan connector is connected, although I haven't been able to get it to visibly click all the way since I've had the new assembly. It leaves a .5 to 1 mm gap in the connector. I've not thought anything of it because the fan seems to be running at full blast. I can definitely hear it and see it when I'm stopped. It's a little harder to tell with when I'm on the freeway because of road/traffic noise.

Kingkub57, you said "after you have checked to make sure your connections are connected, also make sure your fan connector is fully engaged.." I'm not clear about this. What is the difference between "mak[ing] sure [my] connections are connected" and "mak[ing] sure [my] fan connector is fully engaged"?

What I am hearing is that it is probably either the thermostat or the fan. I've never flushed the coolant. Is it possible that old and or watered-down coolant or faulty electrical system be likely to blame?

Does the ambient temperature sensor affect the functioning of the car, or is this purely informational? Was my thinking correct that a hot car might make this read hotter than the outside actually is?

Phillip Givens
2005 Blue Limited Roadster

 

Sorry about that, I mean to make sure your connector for the fan assembly is fully inserted, since I have heard a few of the connectors being different than original design, as far as the out side ambient temp sensor located in the drivers side lower grille it can very quite a bit and will change and adjust itself as you drive the car, but should not be a large amount of variance afterwards. I do think it does have some reference to the engine ecm such as a/c request and such, I'm sure some one will chime in who knows more about it than I do. Hope this helps.

 

Ok, does the fan run in the correct direction? Does it pull cool (outside) air into the engine bay?

Perhaps the polarity is incorrect with a Pepboys replacement. With hot air being forcefully ejected from the front (lower) grills...maybe....?

 

Stat is thermostat yes.
If you did the stat is the fluid in the overflow tank up to level or low due to a small leak?

If fluid is ok, then Id suspect the stat. It came in the housing correct and you installed the whole assembly together?

The fan is not it if your driving and still hot as the forward motion will do sufficient cooling typically.

Let us know, Woody

BTW the overflow tank has a cap, when tight there is pressure in the system when warm. I suggested it be loose to allow you to check flow in the earlier post.