Are the Hypertech coolant fan switch and 160 degree thermostat good to use in the 2.8 V-6. I have been thinking about switching to these and would like to know if anyone has tried them and if they work well.

Thanks

Gary

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JTIGER186

84 SE Parts car
85 SE
86 2M4 In progress

AIM: jtiger186186

Some people have trouble with the engine running too cold with that setup.Others swear by it.
I believe there is a chip (vendor=fiero store) that will alleviate the problems the colder thermostat may cause but have no personal experience with any of it.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 04-19-2004).]

My 87 GT ran not only great but also flawless. Untill I installed the exact set up you are considering. Done by a ASE lifelong certified technician/shop owner. Also a long time very good friend. He could not even undo what ever happened. I left my Fiero with His shop for 2+ weeks. You do not Know how that hurt. Not only not having it but the paranoia of some mechanic thinking "Cool ! Look what I get to test drive" .

I had Pennocks Fiero Forum bookmarked by suggestion of the previous owner/seller. Never checked it out as I never needed "FIERO HELP". If I would have done what you are doing my Fiero would have had the $forgot 200.00? spent wisely. As you are going to hear. Do you really want worse gas milage needing the most expensive grade of gas, for from what I understand is unnoticable improvement (my set up never worked)? To be fair, it did not work in my Fiero.

I do have faith and respect for "The Fiero Store". I do not know why they offer this set up. I am sure there is a reason. The Hyper-Tech chip is warranted for life from Hyper-Tech. I would not want to replace it with another. I would rather have a Fiero Store Credit. Nothing wrong with satisfaction guaranteed although I guess very hard with electrical items. I myself can not even sell it to another Fiero owner.

I am still searching for the cure which ails my Fiero. It stalls when coming to a stop while in gear and sometimes while idleing in park. Could have a failing muffler as it pops a little at low RPMs but it started when I put the set up in. Just spent the weekend making love to the electrical system especially the grounds. I was getting a code 34 (MAP Sensor) but now seem to be getting a 33 (MAP sensor) when I put the 86 GT MAP sensor in the 87 GT.

I am now going to try a new EGR valve as mine seems to do nothing when I use my hand vacume pump. Looks like original, 124,000 miles, no access for the finger test (would anyone else?????). I will check the EGR port for obstructions.

Not long ago some post asked what was the one thing you wished you had never done to your Fiero. The only thing I remember seeing worse than this set up ( the one thing "I" wished I had never done )was selling their Fiero.

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 04-19-2004).]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo don't do it it is quite possiably the worst thing that you can do with a fiero I did that in mine and it blew out the water pump with in 1000 miles no no no no no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jason Carpenter

I tried the Hypertech cool fan switch but it didn't kick the fan on until 240 degrees! My original switch grounded at 230 so the Hypertech was either defective or mislabeled. Anyway, I reinstalled the GM switch, wired up a manual switch in parallel with the circuit and returned the Hypertech one for a $100 (Canadian) savings!

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Still plays with cars!

1986 Fiero GT
1969 Porsche 912

I had the 160 installed in my 2.8 and it worked great... 0-60 in 6.43 sec, 1/4 in 15.0 and 33mpg on the hwy and no codes. No too good for heat in the winter, so I kept a 180 around for winter time.

I also swear by the hypertech switch... I used them in all my V8 fieros and other cars I convert to electric fans.

quote Originally posted by Jason Carpenter: nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo don't do it it is quite possiably the worst thing that you can do with a fiero I did that in mine and it blew out the water pump with in 1000 miles no no no no no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just curious. How does a fan switch and thermostat blow out a water pump? I don't see how it could have anything to do with a waterpump failure.

I had the setup (176° fan switch and 160° thermostat) and had no problems (It was on my car when I bought it). I have since gone to the 180° thermostat from Rodney Dickman because the 160° thermostat didn't offer enough heat for me in the winter and caused the cooling fan to run too often for my taste in the hot summer months. My gas mileage didn't change from one thermostat to the other. I've never had a gas mileage problem with different engine temperatures. Drove my V6 240 miles in winter with NO thermostat (yes I was freezing in the car) and still got 26 mpg at 85mph. Eventually put a thermostat in and mileage remained about the same.

One thing I did have happen was the hypertech thermostat collapsed. It could be my fault for not seating it in properly, but I've read numerous complaints on here concerning that particular thermostat being prone to collapsing.

Personally, I would go to Rodney Dickman and get the 180° thermostat with 195° fan switch. I think it's a bit cheaper. It also offers a cooler engine in the summer and is warm enough in the winter.

Dave

Edit: Forgot to mention. I noticed NO difference in engine performance between a 160° thermostat and the factory ones (195°)

[This message has been edited by ditch (edited 04-19-2004).]

I have 160 stat and 175 switch in my V8 car and the Ferrari Kit w/ turbo. Both run perfectly. Been driving the Ferrari kit like that year round for almost 7 years and over 100K with nota problem. My cooling fan rarely even comes on, and it stays between 160-170 all the time. My vettes factory is a 215 stat and a 238 fan switch. That getting changed soon too since the weathers getting nice.

im not quite sure if it was the cause of the failure in the water pump or if it was the fact that i spanked a vet doing it. but I will tell you this my car used to get about 35mpg and after the thermostat it only got 20 if i was lucky not only that but it did give out after around 1000 miles and it may be because of a faulty thermostat that i had gotten because it blew the cap off of the thermostat housing right before the pump squerted water all over the place through the indicator holes. I was told by another friend of mine that he had tried the same setup and it never let the engine heat up enough and wasn't good for the fieros. after going back to stock parts the car gets everything that it used to have including its "pep." but as for me never again with the hypertec thermostat and fan switch. It may just have to do with the particular car and how the engine has been worn.

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Jason Carpenter

The low temp Thermostat works well, but I and several others have had nothing but trouble with the Hypertech Fan Switch. I got fed up enough to install a switch so I can turn on the fan whenever I choose.

the performance gain is not noticable - but it is at least 0.3 on a 1/4 mile - at least that was the difference is in mine with nothing changing but water/engine temp. It may not be noticable, but that is alot in 1/4 mile terms. The chip is not what makes it work - its the thermostat. but you loose milage. ALOT - on mine, goes from 22 mpg to 17 mpg. and it seems 180 is the magic temp where the milage drop happens

I had the same setup on my car with no noticeable improvement. Everything worked fine and gas mileage was about the same...almost as if I simply replaced stock parts. If I had to do it all over again I would spend my money elsewhere.

on a sidenote, I guess because its turboed, the Ferraro is barely drivable with 195 stat, and only slightly better with 185. Runs great with the 160. No other changes done at all except swapping the stats.

As an alternative to the FS, I believe Rodney sells one that is just a touch wamer..

The ones the fiero store uses are these, you may be able to find them locally.
Hypertech 1002 - Thermostat
Hypertech 4026 - Fan switch

[This message has been edited by Jncomutt (edited 04-20-2004).]

And all this time, I thought running a cooler engine was a good thing. Guess that will explain why my gas mileage sucks.

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BLADE

'86SE
Engine rblt by Jasper (Going V8 in 2004..Hopefully)
Hypertech Chip
Low-temp Fan Switch
Low-temp Thermostat
Grand Am rear brakes
215/45-17 front, 235/45-17 rear Falken Ziex ZE-502

I live in one of the hottest regions in the country & don't have to go with a lower rated stat. It's 91 right now. Granted, there's not a lot of stop & go traffic but I do have to idle a lot, at all the school & church crossings. Perhaps your radiator needs cleaning or replacing?