Just picked up an 84 SE yesterday...aside from the obvious needing to buy an 88 rear suspension ASAP (recommendations on any kits with all the necessary pieces are welcome), I'm fixing up the surprisingly few other problems that are wrong with it. Anyone know where I could find a diagram for the fusebox so I can figure out what's missing, if anything? *EDIT* Nevermind, found it in the manual. Don't have the original so the PDF version was taking a while to search.

Also my coolant temp gauge is a bit wonky and reads correctly maybe half the time, the other half it's bouncing between redline and somewhere between there and actual temperature. I'm assuming the thermostat is faulty since everyone I know with an older car has had theirs go bad on multiple occasions with the same symptoms (I should probably know this already, this car is going to be a learning experience ). What's the part number for a new one?

[This message has been edited by Captain Colon (edited 02-22-2007).]

It's Probably not the thermostat that's causing the gauge weirdness, but rather a bad temp sensor/wiring. Careful with this, as there are three different temp sensors to run different functions. I've forgotten which is which. It could also be air trapped in the system. That can be fixed by "burping" the cooling system, as detailed on several sites.

It's still a good idea to replace the thermostat on a new buy though, since you have no way of knowing how old the current one is. Don't bother getting the low temp 180 degree thermostat, the stock 195 is just right.
If you've been reading old posts or sites, you're probably a little worried about the Fiero's high running temps. If so, a lower temp fan switch from Rodney Dickman is the solution. A low temp thermostat will just make the car run colder on the highway, while a low temp fan switch will keep the engine from getting too hot in traffic. That's where it really matters.

quote Originally posted by Jax184: It's Probably not the thermostat that's causing the gauge weirdness, but rather a bad temp sensor/wiring. Careful with this, as there are three different temp sensors to run different functions. I've forgotten which is which. It could also be air trapped in the system. That can be fixed by "burping" the cooling system, as detailed on several sites.

I think my friend explaining it was just using the term "thermostat" for all the temp sensors, he did tell me that there are multiple ones. The guy I bought it from said he had the system pressure tested and there doesn't seem to be any bubble in there that I can see (coolant up to top of the tube at both caps). Still waiting on fieronews.net to get the shop manual up

Thanks for the heads-up on the fan switch, I'll pick one of those up

[This message has been edited by Captain Colon (edited 02-22-2007).]

As far as I know, no one sells a bolt-on 88 rear suspension kit. You have to somewhere find an 88 cradle, then redrill the strut towers and switch to coilovers to get the clearance. Then somehow get it all bolted up.

But your brakes are going to be kind of honked up with vented in the rear and solid up front. Unless you do the grand am upgrade on the front with vented rotors your brake bias is going to be wrong with a huge likelihood of locking up the rears.

Welcome to the forum and good luck.

You don't want to ever open the front rad cap once the system is filled. And the coolent can be right up to the brim of both while still trapping a pocket in the engine. Burping the engine is free, so you might as well give it a try.
You'll also need to do it after you change out any temp sensors.