Strange Cooling Problem

[BradE.]

I have an odd cooling problem on my 1997 X, I have already replaced the thermostat once. About 2 weeks ago. When the temp is not very cold out the car warms up but it does it very slow. When I turn the heat on after it's finally warmed up it bottoms out down to cold again.

When it's cold out in the mornings the car NEVER warms up at all. I drive about 20 to school and the needle never gets above cold and there is very little heat.

What gives? I need to do something because I can't be freezing my nuts off all winter. Sounds like the thermo is working otherwise it would not heat up at all. Right? It does heat up sometimes, just takes forever. When it's cold out, well that's a different story.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Howard]

Sounds like you got air in the system or a faulty thermostat.

 

[BradE.]

I am pretty sure there is no air in the system. I bled it according to the factory service manual. The coolant level also says constant in the radiator and recovery tank.

 

[Howard]

You may have lots of sludge in the system. When it goes cold is it really cold or is it just the sensor? Are the pipes even in heat ie the heater pipes compared to the rad pipes. Is the new thermostat working ok? I would pull the stat and flush the entire cooling system. Test the stat in a pan of hot water. See what you get out with the flush (even flush the heater rad seperately). All the best.

 

[Texan01]

I'd test/replace the t-stat, they can be bad even when they are new. I had mine stick open on my Pontiac and I could drive it at 80mph in 60 degree weather and it would barely get over 130 degrees(about 3 bars above the lowest marking at 100) with the engine screaming at 3700 rpm, just warm enough to kick on the converter clutch, the engine slows down and cools off and then it releases repeat that for 50 miles and I finally pulled the TCC plug on the tranny and drove it without it till I got home.

If it was sludged up it would be running hotter than normal, not cooler than normal.

They might have given you a 180 or 160 degree t-stat and not a 195.

 

[Howard]

Texan your quite right ofcourse can't think what I was thinking of. The thermostat has to be top of the list. There have been lots of posts about new ones failing or wrong temp fitted. Try a search for the best make to fit.

 

[BradE.]

They gave me a 195, which is the correct temp.

It's probably a bad T-Stat. It does work, just not when it's cold out or the heat is on. Ugh. Now I have to do that again.

 

[TPLYNCH]

you may also want to check the fan clutch. may be running full time...

 

[Opera House]

There is nothing magical happening

When I bought my 97 it had a stuck open thermostat, the needle never moved, and I still got heat. Now this year, the needle is in the middle and I didn't get heat. This time it's the blend door. Cut a hole and yanked it into position. You need a thermostat. A run of bad luck doesn't change the laws of physics. This engine can produce quite a bit of heat even with a stuck open thermostat. Sounds like you got the blend door problem too.

 

[dogfriend]

Don't take offense at this, but are you sure that you didn't install the thermostat backwards?

I did this on my Ford Ranger once, and I had exactly the same symptoms that you are describing.

Spring side goes toward the engine. The little breather hole goes toward the top.

 

[BradE.]

Yep, it's installed right. I double checked everything before I buttoned it up. :up Knowing my luck it's probably a bad thermostat.

It's not the blend door, when it heats up there is loads of heat. The problem is just getting it to heat up and say there once the heat is turned on.

 

[dogfriend]

I also vote bad thermostat, then. It is sticking open.

 

[Jason_25]

Yep, me too. When mine went bad I had the exact same symptoms.

 

[BradE.]

I went to NAPA and picked up a new T-Stat and gasket, total was about $5. I tested it this time in a pot of boiling water to make sure it worked. It was much easier to install this time, only took about 20 minutes. I now have heat!!!! The temp warms up just fine now, and stays there. Whooohoooo.

So, the lesson learned is just because a thermostat is new does not mean it's good!!

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Howard]

Chalk another one to us
Seriously glad to hear that all is now ok. As you say just goes to show new doesn't mean it works!!!!