Does my car never warm up? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

smut · 10-27-2003, 15:43

My car (EA fairmont ghia) usually sits between the first notch above the cold and just touching the normal zone when it is hot or when she has been driven hard.

Sorry to steal danege pic as a reference: http://www.fordgallery.com/showphoto...sort=1&cat=527

I do not know if this has just happened recently or not but she does blow some smoke when you do put your foot down. So does that mean that I am burning oil and I have warped cylinder heads because when I do push her she is still cold?

She has just had an oil change and the radiator flushed -so does this mean that she is running cool all the time? Do I need to put in a new thermostat? Where do you'r guys ea's sit after they are warmed up?

Thanks

Dellboy999 · 10-27-2003, 16:04

As per the picture thats where mine sits, within the normal zone,and my thermo fans cut in when it gets to half, are you sure your temp sender is working properly. As the temp sender is right where the thermostat is, even if the thermostat was a problem, you would expect a lot of heat in that area, so temp reading could look ok even if there was a thermostat problem.

Dellboy999

Vandy · 10-27-2003, 17:03

Try the thermostat first. If it's stuck slightly open, the temperature gauge will sit below normal. Once you've done that, see if it works, if not replace the temp sender.

NZ · 10-27-2003, 17:40

Sunnys car did this, changed the thermostat (one out of my cr which I knew workd properly) and problem solved.

smut · 10-27-2003, 17:53

I was just reading up about replacing my thermostat and it says I need to drain my cooling system to do so. Is this right?

Vandy · 10-27-2003, 17:57

No, just make sure that your car is cold before you take the housing off! And have some water/coolant ready as you will lose some.

smut · 10-27-2003, 19:33

where can i by the new thermostat from? Would this mean that the engine only believes that it that cold so the auxilery fan never kicks in etc?

Vandy · 10-27-2003, 19:38

You can get thermostats from Repco, Autobarn, Supercheap, Bursons etc etc...

When the thermostat is stuck open, the coolant cools down before it heats up

so the coolant running past your temp sender will still be relatively cool. The idea is that when the thermostat is closed, it aids in warming up your engine. As the coolant reaches a certain temperature, the termostat starts to open to allow the coolant to pass through the radiator, thereby maintaining an optimum temperature.

It's all good!

mongrelEB · 10-27-2003, 19:39

Supercheap, Coventrys, Repco, Ford, etc.
Yep.
The smoke, if it's black, will be caused by the cold motor - it puts in more fuel when it's cold.

smut · 10-27-2003, 19:51

yeah its sorta a grey black