With the engine idling in an open garage, it should get the T-stat opened and have the fan cycling. Pretty easy test to run without the DRB. If there is air trapped in the system, the thermostat will not work reliably.
Engine temp -tstat?
Noticed on the last 2 drives (40-50 degrees F ambient) that the car is struggling to get up to engine temp. I don’t think I ever saw it hit 190 or hear fan kick in.
suspecting tstat failed. With the car cold, I started it up and kept my hand the top radiator hose. It gradually warmed up along with the engine; I didn’t feel a sudden rush of heat. The aluminum radiator inlet was red hot too. After the hose was clearly hot I checked the temp gauge and it was hanging out in it’s new favorite spot right in the middle between 100 and 190.
while this feels like the telltale signs of a tstat stuck open, the service manual instructs to use the DRB scan tool if the temp guage is low.
question is, is an open tstat on a 2001 something that would really create a code? (Is this a dumb question given that the flipping SM implies it will? Yes, but whatever)
I’d like to confirm as much as possible its a failed tstat before I jump back into yet another spring season taking off the manifold and thermostat housing. So, if there is more confirmation to chase via diagnostic tool, that’d be good to know.
thanks dudes.
suspecting tstat failed. With the car cold, I started it up and kept my hand the top radiator hose. It gradually warmed up along with the engine; I didn’t feel a sudden rush of heat. The aluminum radiator inlet was red hot too. After the hose was clearly hot I checked the temp gauge and it was hanging out in it’s new favorite spot right in the middle between 100 and 190.
while this feels like the telltale signs of a tstat stuck open, the service manual instructs to use the DRB scan tool if the temp guage is low.
question is, is an open tstat on a 2001 something that would really create a code? (Is this a dumb question given that the flipping SM implies it will? Yes, but whatever)
I’d like to confirm as much as possible its a failed tstat before I jump back into yet another spring season taking off the manifold and thermostat housing. So, if there is more confirmation to chase via diagnostic tool, that’d be good to know.
thanks dudes.
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I was out driving at lunch. I watched it warm up from cold start and there was no discernible change in climb rate until when it opened and the fan started cycling. Mine cycles between 190 and ~205F.
Normally, I would suspect the sending unit to be faulty but your reader confirms the output readings are pretty close to spec. I would definitely investigate the gauge next. I don't know if the sender and gauge have a signal pairing requirement and perhaps someone else installed a non-OEM sensor in the head at some point previously.
1 - 3 of 13 Posts
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