Hi,

My car wont get up to temp. I have replaced the thermostat twice, it tests OK. The car has been idle for around 5 years, and I think was like this back then. What have I missed ? The gauge moves slowly to the bottom of the scale, not up to temp then back a little as I would expect. It will rise on long hills, but doesnt sit where it should. The heater is poor, which tells me the gauge is giving a correct reading. Ideas ?

Thanks

It is more than likely that the heater core (under the dashboard) is blocked, and not letting the hot water thru'. This is a major exercise to remedy, not for the faint hearted

yep, dashboard needs to be removed, wild_el did it recently and also damaged his steering column in the proccess

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, the core isnt blocked. The heater works but not well. The car seems to be bypassing the thermostat. The gauge should go to op. temp and stay there. I can drive 30 k and it isnt on the scale. Hills and outside temps make it go a bit higher, just into the normal range. Then the heater starts to work. After stopping on a restart the gauge goes up ( from heat soak ) then drops after running. I have now fitted 2 thermostats, and they are closed when I have taken them out. I have replaced many bad thermostats over the years but this has me stumped.

Thanks cool EL

what heat range thermostat are you using??

Hi,

There are no temp markings on the 2 I have taken out. The first I fitted was a Tridon, the second a Ford. Neither taken out were open either. I am puzzled as I have never struck a problem like this, you can see a bad thermostat when you take it out and the new one fixes the problem.

Ideas ? Thanks.