Searched a few times but can't seem to get any relevant info...so here's what's what....

About a week ago I got the p1281 CEL code..Read some stuff on here and figured it was a bad thermostat (opening early or 180*) tested a new one and it fully open at 195* started opening just before that so I put it in burped the system unhooked the battery for an hour and the code came back ~30 minutes later...

So here's what I have checked since then...
Let it run for 30 minutes with the radiator cap off to check for an air bubble.
Checked all hoses....
upper rad hose warm
lower hose cold
heater hose from block warm
heater hose from water pump warm
Heat in the cab Hot! (normal)
Antifreeze at the radiator cap..134* Wednesday driving ~10 miles then checking
Antifreeze at the radiator cap today 48*?? Ran for 35 minutes with cap off
No noises coming from the water pump
When I squeeze the upper rad tube the fluid level in the radiator goes up let go it goes down ( so I'm guessing the radiator isn't clogged?)
It did start making a ticking noise from the front pass side after it had been running for 10 minutes...(Video below) I don't think it has anything to do with it but I don't know much...

Motor replaced 8k ago (longblock) New plenum plate, Spectre cold air intake, Coolant sensor replaced with motor

 

You might want to make sure the ECT sensor is plugged in all the way and the wire or plug or sensor itself is not damaged or bad.

 

the ticking thing is the evap system purge solenoid. its normal and unrelated

 

is your temperature gauge reading normal (195ish), or is it reading cold?

 

its reading cold....150ish i'd say

I'll check the plug and sensor tomorrow and see what it looks like...

I didn't think the purge had anything to do with this problem but have never noticed it doing that before so I figured I would ask..

 

if your temp gauge is reading cold and the pcm is reporting 1281, then either the t-stat is bad (and the engine is actually cold) or the temp sensor is bad (and the engine is actually warm)

 

Well I changed the sensor today any let it idle for about 20 minutes then took it for a drive around town for about a half hour..put the passenger side up on a ramp to make sure there wasn't an air bubble anywhere...temp gauge stayed at a needle width past the first line over 130*... so it is still not fixed..

The upper radiator hose is warm and the fluid in the radiator is warm to the touch but not hot..lower hose isn't warm to the touch at all..I dunno what to do anymore....what do I try next????

 

Clogged rad?

 

Stuck open thermostat.

 

HeyYou I just changed it with one that I tested before I put it in