Ok, i have a 91 civic wagon, 2wd for a beater..

Things replaced/fixed:
New radiator, coolant flush, t/b w/water pump, radiator cap, 180 degree thermostat...

Problem/s:
The car wont stay at normal operating temperature. It also seems that the thermostat isnt opening up..

after idleing to get the bubbles out for 30 min, i came back to the car, and the coolant temperature gauge is pointing at "C"
also the lower radiator hose (after the thermostat) is cold/luke warm


Modified by USDM EG at 10:00 AM 12/5/2006


Modified by USDM EG at 10:01 AM 12/5/2006

 

the thermostat doesnt effect your heater temp (unless its stuck wide open)

check to see what position your heater valve is, its under the fuel filter. your cable might not be pulling it open all the way.

it should be pointing toward the hose to be open

closed is 90 degrees from hose.

gl

 

yeah that is working properly, already checked that... thanks for the tip tho!

 

after idleing to get the bubbles out for 30 min, i came back to the car, and the coolant temperature gauge is pointing at "C"

also the lower radiator hose (after the thermostat) is cold/luke warm

 

Yeah, it's definitely not opening. Might be a dumb question, but you installed it with the bleed hole facing up, correct? You can check if it's defective also by putting it in a pot of boiling water and see if it opens up. No sensor should affect it opening / closing because it's mechanical. Maybe you have ablock in your cooling system? Just throwing some stuff out there, I want you to get it fixed ASAP as well, it's getting seriously cold up here. Good luck .

 

bleed hole is up, and a new gasket as well...

I doubt its a block... when i took the old thermo out.. coolant poured out like crazy!

I first installed a 195 thermo last week, today i swapped it out for a 180 thermo.. on the 195 is stayed at N.O.T., but with the 180 is doesnt blow warm air unless im above idle...

 

if your thermostat WAS NOT opening your car would be overheating, if its stuck open your car wouldnt warm up.

are you sure your gauge is right??? the only way your car will overcool is if the coolant is constantly flowing (stuck open thermostat).

so either, your gauge is wrong, and your engine is reaching operating temps, but coolant isnt reaching your heater core, OR your water pump is defective and not pumping enough coolant at low rpms to allow coolant to pass over the heater element.

 

could it be possible i need to get more bubbles out? i even put my car on the driveway which is like a 45 degree angle....

 

yeah, air would explain your problems.

 

works great now...

air was still in the system

thanks everyone

 

To get air out of the system I believe you start it when its cold(the engine) and have the radiator cap off and let it just idle for 10 min or so till the engine fan kicks on, when the fan kicks on I believe all the air is out of the system. Hope this helps