[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gregg Lee
[B]I'm a contrarian on the license plate.

 

Thanks for all the posts. I think it is the license plate. I'm a little "gun shy" about it being something more serious since I saw four bars the day I picked up my car from having its short block replaced.

I do have the Mugen 180 deg thermostat and Mugen radiator cap installed. I switched to them in January after my newly installed short block overheated.

That time the cooling system apparently had air in it from not being bled properly when the new short block was filled with coolant. I got four bars after 1.7 miles of driving in 40 deg Wyoming January.

This time, I got down to 3 bars just by slowing down. I did immediately remove the plate. However, I think cdelena's experience is really valuable. I plan to leave the plate off and drive aggressively for a while to see if I can make the problem happen with no front plate.

I'm interested to hear that Mugen recommends no front plate for races I think the standard front plate blocks the air flow to some extent also.

By the way, the dealer's service writer and service manager didn't think the first version of my front plate would cause a problem and that version blocked about 15% more front grill than this one. I do have Smokin's grill installed. I doubt that his grill has any significant effect on air flow. Over time it might improve airflow over an unprotected radiator, since you can clean it and get rid of bug build-up.

Tanqueray's experience with a hot interior is interesting. Please note that other than four bars on the temp readout, I had no other signs or symptoms of trouble. The air worked. The cabin interior was comfortable.

 

I have no grill cover and really haven't paid attention to the feel of the console. Never noticed anything out of the ordinary temperature wise. I'll check tomorrow and post.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gregg Lee
[B]

I'm not saying the plate contributes nothing, but the altitude and steep grades seem more likely to be the main problem.

Nice to know the guage actually works above three.

 

For the record, I don't even know what 4 bars looks like..

But really, is 4 bars bad????? What temp are we talking?

 

[QUOTE]
But really, is 4 bars bad????? What temp are we talking?

 

Wow. First instance I've heard of in which the S2K hit four-bars...

I also owned a Miata, and had similar overheating problems at high altitude, during extended climbs, driving aggressively, and sometimes with the A/C on....

First thing I did was remove the after-market grill insert, then added Red-line water-wetter (good stuff).

No more overheating problems....

I'd leave that front plate off, and it certainly couldn't hurt to put in a bottle of red-line water-wetter. In fact, I think I'll put some in my car before the track day next weekend.

http://www.redlineoil.com

http://www.redlineoil.com/redlineoil/wwti.htm

 

Someone in our club hit four bars two weekends ago. The other five stooks with tops down and AC cranked (it was well over 95 degrees) never got above three bars. The difference, the "hot" car was the only one in the group with a perforated metal grille.

 

I officially hit 4 bars yesterday. It was 110 degrees in Phoenix.

I drove 16 miles on the highway at about 75mph with AC, 2 miles on city streets (1 short red light), and then parked in a fairly cool covered garage. I didn't notice 4 bars when I got out of the car.

When I came back 25 minutes later, the car was at 4 bars. The radiator fans were not running, however. After a few seconds of driving, the car dropped back down to 3 bars. I left the AC off and the car stayed at 3 bars all the way home.

When I got home, I parked the car and raised the hood...the radiator fans never came on.

I am guessing that I have fans problems; can anyone think of anything that I can check myself before taking the car to the dealer? I don't see how the fans could not have been running with the car at 4 bars.

 

Tanqueray, I've noted that the fans on the S2000 seem to be on less than on my '93 Prelude VTEC. You might not have a problem.

Do you have any obstruction (grill guard or license plate) to airflow into the radiator?