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Engine Temp issues/overcooling; Won't warm up
Topic Started: Jan 25 2013, 03:09 PM (1,348 Views)
Tinker1980
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My 1991 metro, when purchased, had a problem running hot. Traced it down to the thermostat, swapped in a 180-degree t-stat, and now, it won't get up above 1/4 on the guage. I assume it's supposed to go up halfway or close to halfway. I have half the radiator blocked off with cardboard in an attempt to get the engine warmed up, and it doesn't help. The heater, of course, isn't all that warm and just causes the car to run even cooler. No amount of idling will get the engine to warm up to halfway on the guage.

I know there are 195 degree thermostats. Can't get one locally, but is 15 degrees that big a difference?

I don't leak any coolant, and a hand on the engine tells me it's certainly not warming up. It also has a tendency to idle fast. (like it isn't warmed up, of course) Any strange things I should be checking for?
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75monzatc
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just jeremy

New thermostat doesn't mean alot nowdays due to poor manufacturing. I've had 5 new ones fail within a week's time in the last 3 years on different cars I've worked on, possibly spring failure. Open up way too early. Sucks trying to fix something when new parts are unreliable. That just bit me on my boys metro last week...been working on it off and on for a few months trying to get heat out of it, let myself feel confident in new thermostat, just failed to check it with temp gun afterwords trying for the idiot of the month award. :smackface
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Old Man


when you buy a new thermostat or when you check a used one send your wife to the movies and get her pot, fill it with water and the thermostat and put it on the stove. Then get her meat thermometer and put it in the water. --- turn the burner on high and watch the thermometer closely.

always always------might save you some wrenching.

BTW, clean everything up and put it away before your wife gets home.
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Memphis metro


I got a 195 not long ago at the zone, autozone. Mine was not going up to half on the guage either. She does now and holds rock steady in the middle.
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Tinker1980
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Old Man
Jan 25 2013, 04:02 PM
when you buy a new thermostat or when you check a used one send your wife to the movies and get her pot, fill it with water and the thermostat and put it on the stove. Then get her meat thermometer and put it in the water. --- turn the burner on high and watch the thermometer closely.

always always------might save you some wrenching.

BTW, clean everything up and put it away before your wife gets home.
I have a special non-food pan for just such an activity. I'm sure there is a thermometer floating around somewhere as well...

I got distracted during the t-stat replacement because I broke a bolt off in the head. :banghead Didn't even turn, just snapped off. Had to weld a nut on it to get it out. :rocker May see if the Zone has a proper t-stat today, since I'm bored and it's cheap.
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feetchermancj


I swaped my 180 out for a 195 for winter because I was having the same problem. With the 195 the needle sits right in the middle :)
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1DCGUY
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Don't be a "Richard"

Are you running a 50/50 mix of coolant?
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arollinstone
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On a Mission from God

I'm still looking for a 197 or 205 degree thermostat some guys on here have.
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Old Man


arollinstone
Jan 26 2013, 02:08 PM
I'm still looking for a 197 or 205 degree thermostat some guys on here have.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_superstat&153;-super-premium-thermostat-195-degrees-fahrenheit-stant_5482321-p?searchTerm=thermostat

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Tinker1980
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1DCGUY
Jan 26 2013, 01:25 PM
Are you running a 50/50 mix of coolant?
As near as I can get it to 50/50. Hard to get all of the old coolant out.
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cwatkin


Non-food pots and pans are a must for any car or gun guy for cleaning and testing purposes. I have boiled many parts for cleaning purposes with such pots and pans. You can either use something old, get something cheap at a second hand/thrift store, or buy the dollar store/Wal-Mart grade for these purposes.

Conor
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Vkhelldog
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Did you get a fail open thermostat that's failed open and now won't close??
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99metro
putt-putt

Don't forget about that rubber seal that fits around the thermostat itself. New ones don't come with a new seal, has to be bought separate. I had the same issue. Cooling too much - finally found I forgot to install that seal. !@#$%.
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

99metro
Jan 28 2013, 11:07 AM
Don't forget about that rubber seal that fits around the thermostat itself. New ones don't come with a new seal, has to be bought separate. I had the same issue. Cooling too much - finally found I forgot to install that seal. !@#$%.
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Old Man


99metro
Jan 28 2013, 11:07 AM
Don't forget about that rubber seal that fits around the thermostat itself. New ones don't come with a new seal, has to be bought separate. I had the same issue. Cooling too much - finally found I forgot to install that seal. !@#$%.
......and be sure to get a 'neon' seal as per this 'how to'
http://geometroforum.com/topic/5015643/1/
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