porscheEH!

It runs between 3/4 and full under normal driving conditions. I get kinda freaked out when it creeps to full and i have to turn the A/C **** on to make the fans run lol

xsboost90

should run w/ the needle horizontal. Mine does on the track while giving it hell. W/ the A/C on it should run maybe just above that. Check to make sure your fans are both spinning free- w/ the car off- they usually lock up when they are bad.

TazioNYC

I've read a lot of conflicting things about this. One camp says that normal operation/temp gauge readings would be (late model dash):

1) Needle at first mark for clear running
2) Climbs up to the second mark at stoplights/traffic and then gets cooled by the fan coming on before it goes into the red

and that many owners chase phantom overheating problems because the gauge reads real temp (as opposed to other cars where the needle only moves if there's a huge change in temps) and that the difference between the first and second hash marks (the "normal window") is only 20-30 degrees F. Here, the only issue is if the needle goes into the red, and that owners just have to stop worrying so much about it.

The other camp is that the needle should be at the first hash or slightly above it (9 o'clock) at all times and that the above behavior means something is wrong in the thermostat or with the guages.

But I think both agree that during clear running, it should be at the first hash.

xsboost90

ive owned three late dash cars and all of them ran at the second-the first being the fat one at the bottom-line when up to temp- at a stop light it may go up to the top edge of the line, but when the fan kicks on it comes back down to the line or just below.

DarylJ

Mine works like Dan's, but probably shoots up to the 3rd line faster because my fan relay decided it doesn't want to work on low anymore. But the fans turn on at the 3rd line (on high) and the temp gets dragged down to the 2nd mark in a hurry and all is well. When driving, I rarely end up above the 2nd mark.

JimV8

Same here. I spend a lot of time trying to keep the needle at 9:00, but when I get on it it goes up to the second bar but then all the fans come on and it comes back pretty quick. I did put in a new rad and that helped a little but I figure the thing just likes to run hot.

Yabo

mine runs about directly horizontal. sometimes hovers in between horizontal and the higher white line (3rd).. but is always steady and only trips the high speed fan at autocross for some reason.

Seems fine to me. Probably will throw a lower temp thermostat in when i do timing belt in the spring though.

nh7cy

Mine (early dash) tends to stick around at 1/4 it used to go to the red line start the high speed fan and drop back down again before I redid my headgasket, other seals, etc. but now the highest it will usually go is about 3/4 and thats when I'm sitting in rush hour traffic on a day when the temperature outside is about 100 degrees.

porscheEH!

yea, my dash is the erly style, I've found that the fans do not come on even when it get almost to full, Possible problem in the coolant switch? The fans will only turn on with the airconditioning selected. i've also torn out the airconditioning condenser, and the Compressor, so the rad is getting good cooling. Oh and where is the coolant switch that turns on the fans???

Dr.Porsche

I believe mine is horizontal

sillbeer

coolant switch for the fans is in the radiator, just below the top radiator hose inlet.

Calmchaos

That damn temp needle has always pissed me off.
In the winter the car never gets to 9 o clock and in the summer it never stays below it (after warming up). But it never goes high enough to hit the idiot light.

I'm pretty sure my thermostat is stuck open but it's hot now so I don't care much. And I have a low temp fan switch so it kicks the fans on 10° C cooler.

I'm at the point with this car, that if the oil pressure is good, I don't care.

genikz

Amen. I auto-x my '88 924S and I've reached nearly 3/4 of the guage for a few minutes with no issues. At this point, I'm just going to run it until it blows a hose or boils over...

Keithr726

Dans right. First slash for late cars(85.5+, mid point for early cars(83-85.5). Early cars also tend to run hot in stop and go driving.

Try cleaning grounds, do a good old coolant flush. The replace thermostat and radiator if you must. Not a good idea to let the car run hot, stuff with start to melt. Ask me how I know

Dales944

Where - which grounds??? Please elaborate. Thank you.

Dale.