86 Trans Am

[Turbogn86]

killing me!!!!! i was driving it last night since i just got it running, got the T-Tops off, music blaring, tryin to see through the crack's in my wind shield. and what do ya know... pretty blue lights behind me. i had just passed him a few seconds b4 he flipped the lights. anyways he ended up pulling me over because my running lights were out. and they worked just a day ago... only thing i noticed is that my dash lights had gone out when i turned my lights on... but i dident think nuttin of it. head lights still worked. but any how, this is no buick.. so im lookin at it goin DERRRRRRRR... any clues?

[Recklessrob]

Check fuses and headlight switch. Check the stereo wiring too. I've
seen improperly wired stereos short out the dashlight circuit and burn
up the wiring harness.

[Turbogn86]

i checked all fuses and they are all good, i have not checked the switch yet, im going too, as for the radio, it appears to be stock. but i have a guy with a TA in town who knows them like i know my buick so ima let him help me. i will let yall know the results.

[Turbogn86]

of course i make everything out to be something its not, so yea... it was a simple fix, switch was bad. now to figure out how to make her stop over heating...

[Recklessrob]

of course i make everything out to be something its not, so yea... it was a simple fix, switch was bad. now to figure out how to make her stop over heating...

Is the fan working ? Sometimes the fan clutches go bad so that the fan doesn't spin up to speed. Is the thermostat good ?
Is the coolant mixed properly ? (50/50 - 70/30 antifreeze to water) How long has this been happening ?

[Turbogn86]

fan works, coolents mixed properly, thermistat is good, and how long... since its been running... i have only had it for a week, the new motor has only been running 2 weeks

[Turbogn86]

fan works, coolents mixed properly, thermistat is good, and how long... since its been running... i have only had it for a week, the new motor has only been running 2 weeks

[Recklessrob]

See if the new motor has the correct water pump installed. If someone had mistakenly installed a water pump from the later models. It may be a reverse rotation unit. Is the motor new, or a used one that is new to the car?

[Turbogn86]

option b captain

[Recklessrob]

I'd check the radiator then. Drain the coolant into a clean container so
you can reuse it. Then look down into it through the radiator cap hole.
See if there is any build up around the cross tubes that resembles a
badly corroded battery terminal. That may be restricting the flow through
it. Also check the outside physical condition of it.

What kind of vehicle did the engine come out of ?

[87natty]

Is it overheating at low speeds or high speeds?

[Be4u]

Air bubble in the heater core?

[Turbogn86]

i have chosen to drive it till it sells and not give a shit... so i can makesome $ and fix the buick... v8's blow, and NA motors period blow... jjust my 2 cents