Running a little hot?
 

I'm wondering if this is a normal reading for the temp gauge? i was sitting in traffic with the AC running, and the temp got about this high...didn't go any higher, and I was just wondering if it is normal? As you can see, the ambient temp was 88F.

Also, IIRC, isn't the economy gauge supposed to read all the way to the left at idle while the car is in drive? If I put it in park, the gauge reads all the way left...but in drive, it moves to the 3/4 mark.

Any insight? Thanks guys.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...1205713783.jpg

If you're sitting in traffic, 88F ambient, and running the A/C and that's as hot as it's getting, you have nothing to worry about. Good that you're paying attention, but you can rest easy on this one.

I feel that is in fact a little too warm!

John

Yes, I feel that it may be just slightly too warm...not to the point where it's overheating, but just a little hot. I'm being extra paranoid with this car as well, since it's a inline 6, and I know how they like to pop head gaskets.

The temp drops down to the 80C mark when cruising on the freeway, so I suspect the viscous fan clutch is getting a little weak (low on fluid). Also, I'm not sure that my auxiliary fan is kicking on...I had a friend tell me that they heard the fan running, but the car is so well insulated, that I can't actually hear if it's coming on or not... :\.

Well, in the summer...temps in socal regularly get into triple digits. So if it's having trouble dealing with 88F, then something is amiss.

Use the link below to check out a fix. I've used it successfully on a 90' 300CE and a 92' 500SL.

http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_CTS.html

Many will attest that reading is fine, not unusal at all. Did your aux. fan kick on? It should kick in anything much higher than that. They can be finicky though.

If you want to try to make it run cooler, have at it, but I think you're going to spend lots of time chasing a nonexistent problem.

i think where your gauge is about right , considering your description...

Seems about right to me as well. I know if I restart the car after driving on a warm day, the temp gauge reads higher than normal for the first few minutes as well.

If you want a proper diagnosis, you have to answer the question posed to you by a poster about the aux fan activation...open the hood and LOOK...

I will try this again.

Does anyone know when the aux fan is supposed to kick on? Is it controlled by a separate temp. sensor?

It triggers at 105C coolant temp for the hHgh speed and it triggers at 290PSI refrigerant high side pressure for the Low speed.

That is why we asked the question. There are two circuits and therefore there can be different diagnosis.
You tell us and then we will be able to give you a complete, accurate, correct diagnosis..