I have a stock V6 auto 87 GT w/ 47k miles (I have Rodney's low temp switch & thermostat but I haven't installed them yet).

While I was driving home from work today (yes, it is my daily driver) on the freeway at 70 mph, the little temp light lit up, but the temp needle gauge was reading normal.

I pulled over and checked the radiator and hoses for steam/leaks and found none. I had been running the A/C at the time, so I turned it off, rolled the windows down and turned the heater on hi for the rest of the trip home.

I know its a little pass do for a radiator flush/coolant change. Could this be the cause of the light?

Or any ideas on what caused this and what I need to do to fix it?

Thanks.

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I'm not sure about the 87, but on my 84, the warning light is for both low oil pressure & high coolant temp. maybe you have a problem with oil press?
edit-after looking at the wiring diagram, it looks like your light is not on the same circuit a the oil press.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 08-08-2003).]

It may be possible that your temp sending unit is going bad, or your guage is reading incorrectly. I would suggest hooking up a secondary temp guage that you know works and reads somewhat accurate and see where your temp is at. If it's corresponding closely with your dash guage I would suggest replacement of the sending unit.

It is most likely the sender, but if the wire for the light got chaffed and is grounding out the light would also come on
Rodney's low temp switch will not solve the light problem. The sender causing the problems is in the back head. The temp switch for the fans is over by the water pump.

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LS1 v8 T-Top 87 GT

[url]http://www.acxunlimited.com/ls1swap.htm [/url]

Thanks for the replies. At least I have a direction to look in now.

I did an archive search and came up with https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20030204-2-028881.html

Now, I looked up (I hope) the sending unit (I am going to replace it, no matter if it is the problem or not because I'm sure I will eventually replace everything anyway so why not now) on FieroStore.com and GMPartsDirect.com and came up with these 2 options:

FS: 84-88 TEMPERATURE GAUGE SENDER Part # 51404 for $33.17

GMPD: Coolant Temperature Sensor GM PART # 25036809 GM LIST: $41.61 OUR PRICE: $20.81

So, did I find the right sending units? Or is 1 right or both wrong?

Also, it would be a huge help to the mechanically challenged FieroFanatic if someone could post a pic on the V6 where the sending unit is. I researched my Haynes manual and came up empty.

Thanks again.

[This message has been edited by FieroJuice (edited 08-09-2003).]

Thats not good since that is what happined when I blew the engine in my 86 2M4. The temp guage was reading normal, and all of a sudden the temp light came on and I looked in the review mirror and couldnt see a thing but White smoke.
I pulled over to the side of the road and it died..... The end

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Don Pottorff
Red 88 Fiero 2M4
Silver 86 Fiero 2M4

quote Originally posted by 88Fiero2M4: I pulled over to the side of the road and it died..... The end

Ouch! Don, I hope your experience doesn't happen to me.

Well, even though I know it won't solve the problem (thanks LS1), I did install Rodney's switch & t-stat.

Now, if someone will answer my questions from 2 posts up and post a pic of the sending unit on the engine, I would most appreciate it.

GM part number you posted is correct.

The sensor is located near the aft, left ("southwest") corner of the aft valve cover, as you stand behind the car and look in. It's directly below the steel "loop" bracket, the one with the large 1-inch-ish hole in it.

There are 2 wires going to the sender, and they plug into the sender via a single connector. Often, heat crumbles that connector shell away. If one of the wires has worn insulation and touches a ground (metal that is), it causes the warning light to come on. Check that out first - you may not even have to install a new sender.

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But it was cause the Radiator was plugged up and coolent wasnt running thru as well as it could. the one in my signuture is the one that is the silver one. that is where it sits today waiting for me to get the cash for the engine that I found for it. I partialy tore the engine apart after it happined but mechinical work is beyond me. I can do the little stuff but not the major. Alot of it is I am a big guy with a bad back and I cant crawl around under a car all that well.
I hope to have the 86 running by the end of this year if I get lucky enuf to find a good job. With the economy the way it is its not looking like that will be the case though.

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Don Pottorff
Red 88 Fiero 2M4
Silver 86 Fiero 2M4

Stu, thanks for the excellent description/directions. Because of that, I was able to locate the sending unit on the engine block.

Unfortunately for me, the wiring appears to be intact.

So I guess the next step is to place an order for it and wait.

[This message has been edited by FieroJuice (edited 08-10-2003).]

Both numbers are correct. If you order from the FieroStore, part number 51404, the GM part number, (25036809), is on the box. I buy all my parts from the FieroStore, to support them and they ship it fast!
Kevin

quote Originally posted by 88Fiero2M4: But it was cause the Radiator was plugged up and coolent wasnt running thru as well as it could.

Hm, I think that radiator flush that was on my list just got bumped to the top of it, just in case.