Engine is stone cold after 20 minutes driving!

[OzMounty]

I recently had some overheating troubles, And a sshop replaced a pipe at the top of the radiator as there was water in the reservoir, but not much in the radiator.
So I get home and the Boné up a bit there was a Pair of pliers left jammed in the bonnet, Took it back and they they removed them!
But now it just doesn’t get up to temp it almost never gets up to temp after 40 minutes of driving it. It will start to get to about quarter..
What could it be a thermostat?? It is not the temperature gauge because I filled up on it and the bonnet stone cold after 2020 minutes of driving..
Thanks for any advice. Wanted to see if I can troubleshoot and fix it. I think that most of these mechanic shops, especially these days but I’m not very good at all..

 

[Pete Deering]

I recently had some overheating troubles, And a sshop replaced a pipe at the top of the radiator as there was water in the reservoir, but not much in the radiator.
So I get home and the Boné up a bit there was a Pair of pliers left jammed in the bonnet, Took it back and they they removed them!
But now it just doesn’t get up to temp it almost never gets up to temp after 40 minutes of driving it. It will start to get to about quarter..
What could it be a thermostat?? It is not the temperature gauge because I filled up on it and the bonnet stone cold after 2020 minutes of driving..
Thanks for any advice. Wanted to see if I can troubleshoot and fix it. I think that most of these mechanic shops, especially these days but I’m not very good at all..

It could have air in the system.
After the thermostat or upper hose replacement, the system needs too be bleed. If they left the pliers there, they could not have run the engine too bleed the system. They would have been standing around watching the bubbles in the coolant tank, if they bled it.

 

[OzMounty]

It could have air in the system.
After the thermostat or upper hose replacement, the system needs too be bleed. If they left the pliers there, they could not have run the engine too bleed the system. They would have been standing around watching the bubbles in the coolant tank, if they bled it.

Thanks will look up how to bleed it

 

[Pete Deering]

Thanks will look up how to bleed it

1. Lift the front end up in air.
2. Remove radiator cap
3. Start engine, as engine warm up , watch the coolant moving in the radiator, you will see bubble.
4. It takes 15 minutes, too warm up

 

[Kidd7]

you can also use this to burb the system: Amazon.com

 

[OzMounty]

Are you guys sure about it? Or reasonably sure? How would that make the cooling system seem to be stuck wide open?
And thanks for the response, they did change the pipe while I waited so defiantly did not bleed or bubble it.

Could I just drive the front of it up a gutter and open the radiator to let it bubble out? How much higher than the back wheels does it need to be?

And thanks!

 

[Pete Deering]

Are you guys sure about it? Or reasonably sure? How would that make the cooling system seem to be stuck wide open?
And thanks for the response, they did change the pipe while I waited so defiantly did not bleed or bubble it.

Could I just drive the front of it up a gutter and open the radiator to let it bubble out? How much higher than the back wheels does it need to be?

And thanks

What work did they do on the cooling system?
1. Bleeding : you are making the radiator cap the highest point in the system. Air raises to the highest point.
2. Some vehicle have both or one temperature sensors in the upper manifold. Air gets trapped in the upper manifold. Throwing the temperature sensor off.
3. What are you calling the "Pipe" ?

 

[OzMounty]

What work did they do on the cooling system?
1. Bleeding : you are making the radiator cap the highest point in the system. Air raises to the highest point.
2. Some vehicle have both or one temperature sensors in the upper manifold. Air gets trapped in the upper manifold. Throwing the temperature sensor off.
3. What are you calling the "Pipe" ?

Thanks and not sure, will look what pipe it was, and yep that makes sense the top sensor

 

[OzMounty]

I have a laser tester and after plenty of driving it is at 140f but the instrument cluster temperature gauge still shows below zero below the first line.
Did try to bubble it I just drove it up on a gutter and left it with the heater on idling for about 15 minutes with the radiator cap off. No bubbles come out of the radiator. I do have the torque app and the bluetooth odb2, so will check some codes, also I think with this obd2 I'll be able to monitor the temperature from a few sensors.

 

[Pete Deering]

I have a laser tester and after plenty of driving it is at 140f but the instrument cluster temperature gauge still shows below zero below the first line.
Did try to bubble it I just drove it up on a gutter and left it with the heater on idling for about 15 minutes with the radiator cap off. No bubbles come out of the radiator. I do have the torque app and the bluetooth odb2, so will check some codes, also I think with this obd2 I'll be able to monitor the temperature from a few sensors.
View attachment 456360

I believe, obd2 scanner you should be able too read the engine coolant temperature. I believe II can with my obd1 scanner.
The gauge sensor could be bad or you might have a bad connection at the sensor.
The coolant temperature should be 195°F

 

[OzMounty]

Thanks! Yes it seems to keep the temp at 147-152f , will go warm it up a bit tomorrow. But it does seem to be keeping the temp in the wrong range after a "warm" motor and startup idle 5 min and drive around block. Thanks for the replies

 

[Pete Deering]

Thanks! Yes it seems to keep the temp at 147-152f , will go warm it up a bit tomorrow. But it does seem to be keeping the temp in the wrong range after a "warm" motor and startup idle 5 min and drive around block. Thanks for the replies

Did they replace the thermostat with the wrong part?

 

[Pete Deering]

When you drive away , warming up the engine. Turn on the heat in the car. Use your laser tester, to see what the center vent heat temperature is.

 

[OzMounty]

Thanks a lot for your replies Pete! I ended up changing the thermostat myself and that sorted it good as gold, drove 8hrs round trip to the coast and it stayed bang just under the middle of temp gauge the whole time. I did drive it up on the gutter and idle it 10min first and seen it blowing bubbles.
I will try and do as much as I can myself in future, as the hose clamps the mechanics put on were not even tightened to a decent level.