Blankme

I have a 1.6 not getting up to normal operating temp. Coolant lines seem tight after driving. I can make the temp gauge move a little by turning off the heat. (moving the temp on hvac to cold). I've looked on this site but couldn't come up with anything. Just wanted a direction to go before I put a new thermostat.
Thanks

1991civiclx13

do you live in cold climate region?

bandit67

My 94 was doing the same thing. I placed a piece of cardboard over half the rad and my temp went up. that told me my gauge was prolly working and that was correct. My thermostat had stuck partly open, and it was less than two years old.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Failure to reach operating temperature pretty well narrows it down to the thermostat. Replace with an OEM unit.

myEKsedan

iTrader: (1)

Blankme

I live in Indiana. Cold outside temp has no affect. It was reaching operating temp when it was -20 this year. It was 40 outside when this happened.

magichands

Thermostat is a good possibility, but you should check your cooling fan. i just replaced the cooling fan switch on a 95 B16A3 causing the same problem. the switch was closing at 140 degrees F turning the cooling fan on. as a result, the engine wasn't reaching proper temp. 2 wire switch at thermostat looks like a coolant temp sensor.

Nickytalon

iTrader: (1)

make sure you have a thermostat in the car.
possibly an electrical issue, making the needle read low.
is the fan constantly on?

Blankme

The fan does not stay on. I haven't actually checked... buy I've had the car for over two years and has always reached temp. so I would assume it had a thermostat. Just might not be working. I drive this car 100 miles a day 50 to work and the same back home. I always pay attention to my gauges. I know at what point on my journey my car normally reaches temp. Gauge rose a little at that point but never any higher. I had the heat on so I moved the control to cold. Gauge rose a little more but not to the norm. Temp fell when I turned the heat back on. Getting a thermostat this weekend. Should have done it when I did a flush a year ago but I was fixing a cracked radiator and not thinking at the time. Stupid I know but building engines for 8 hours the last thing a want to do is work on my own... J/K
Thanks again

magichands

if you are in the car and driving, how do you know at what temp the fan comes on?

Blankme

Sorry I was responding to the question about not having a thermostat. I checked for the fan running after I drove home from work this morning.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Just because you have one doesn't mean it isn't stuck open.

slo_hatch

I would say your thermostat is stuck open. Replace it with an OEM part and burp coolant system when it is installed. Fans will not kick on until the ecu determines coolant is a certain temp (should be around 190-200 F), so if the thermostat is stuck they probably will not kick on until the thermostat operates properly. If the fans were the culprit, it should be obvious as they would be running constantly, which I'm sure you have already determined is not the case.

Blankme

Im just going to replace the thermostat. Any write up on the site to ease installation?
Thanks again

TomCat39

The one thing the FSM doesn't say that many people recommend is to raise the front of the vehicle when "bleeding/burping" the coolant system. You can do this either a floor jack or by parking on an incline/hill.

Blankme

Thanks tomcat39