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dscott2000
Member
Name: Scott
Age: 28
Location: Kansas City, MO
Joined: 2008-07-27
Post Count: 160
Contribution: 512
Integrity: 0
 |  Subject: Thermostat Stuck Open *  Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:19 am | |
| Well, I do not have a regular dash like many on this forum. My dash is digital, so, I cannot tell temps like 210 etc. And, I do not have the touch screen. Anyway, my question is this... In the winter my car will not warm up like it does in the sprintime. In the winter, on the gauge, it runs at 2 bars above cold. Therefore, the heater does not get warm. During the summer, it reads one or two bars above the center line (normal) with the A/C off. Does this mean either my thermostat is missing or drilled? Or, could the thermostat be stuck open? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance! _________________   1990 Buick Riviera Series 1 3800, gutted airbox, B&M shift kit, Thrush exhaust, 800 watt stereo, and Baer brakes. |
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AA
Administrator
Name: Aaron
Age: 32
Location: C-bus, Ohio
Joined: 2007-01-14
Post Count: 9474
Contribution: 3477
Integrity: 39
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:38 pm | |
| My guess is it is stuck partially open. It may be functional except for closing all the way. Easy fix is just to swap in new one and see what happens. You can test the old one by heating up a kettle of boiling water. _________________  |
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L67
Enthusiast
Name: Matt
Age: 19
Location: Michigan
Joined: 2007-06-06
Post Count: 654
Contribution: 1585
Integrity: 12
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:12 pm | |
| My car did the same thing last summer and blew cold air no matter how long i let it warm up. I swapped out the t-stat and it the heat worked. _________________  1996 Riviera, 1.9s, 3" DP, FWI, 180, AL104s, 3.6", DHP PowrTuning... Soon: SSACs, Stage 1 TB, and a 3.4 |
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albertj
Addict
Name:
Location: Finger Lakes of New York State
Joined: 2007-05-31
Post Count: 2052
Contribution: 2496
Integrity: 29
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:57 pm | |
| If you look at how the thermostat is designed and installed you may conclude it was made to fail open or partly open. Just replace it. And be sure to 'burp' the system when you are done filling it with coolant. Albertj
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1998 with all fac. opts. (exc. CD changer and subwoofer); 209,000 miles. Mods: KYB front struts, extra noise barriers, fire extinguisher, Magnecor 8mm plug wires, 4-note horn, custom-made stainless exhaust.
Avatar is missing.
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dscott2000
Member
Name: Scott
Age: 28
Location: Kansas City, MO
Joined: 2008-07-27
Post Count: 160
Contribution: 512
Integrity: 0
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:54 pm | |
| I didnt own the Riv last summer. I bought the car in April. So, I dont know. If the car has done this before. I have let it idle for about 30 minutes before driving and it warms up just fine. But, after driving the car for about a mile, the temp gauge drops to about 1-2 bars above cold. _________________ 1990 Buick Riviera Series 1 3800, gutted airbox, B&M shift kit, Thrush exhaust, 800 watt stereo, and Baer brakes.
Last edited by dscott2000 on Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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dscott2000
Member
Name: Scott
Age: 28
Location: Kansas City, MO
Joined: 2008-07-27
Post Count: 160
Contribution: 512
Integrity: 0
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dscott2000
Member
Name: Scott
Age: 28
Location: Kansas City, MO
Joined: 2008-07-27
Post Count: 160
Contribution: 512
Integrity: 0
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ibmoses
Addict
Name: Bert
Location: North Alabama
Joined: 2008-02-03
Post Count: 1486
Contribution: 4133
Integrity: 22
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:08 pm | |
| | dscott2000 wrote: | | AA wrote: | | My guess is it is stuck partially open. It may be functional except for closing all the way. Easy fix is just to swap in new one and see what happens. You can test the old one by heating up a kettle of boiling water. |
I will check asap. I think I will just go ahead and replace it. I have all the service records since new until just before I purchased the car.. I didnt see anything about replacing the t-stat. |
Check the hoses real good while you are at it. If they are original they are bound to have some soft spots, especially the lower hose.
Bert  _________________ 99 Riviera(on the left) "Cruising Missile" Midnight Blue Pearl 90,000 miles GuttedAirBox  70GS455(on the right) Diplomat Blue "Howitzer with windshield wipers" |
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dscott2000
Member
Name: Scott
Age: 28
Location: Kansas City, MO
Joined: 2008-07-27
Post Count: 160
Contribution: 512
Integrity: 0
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deekster_caddy
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Name: Derek
Age: 37
Location: Reading, MA
Joined: 2007-02-01
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Integrity: 28
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:37 am | |
| | dscott2000 wrote: | | I have let it idle for about 30 minutes before driving and it warms up just fine. But, after driving the car for about a mile, the temp gauge drops to about 1-2 bars above cold. |
Sounds exactly like an open thermostat._________________ '98 Buick Riviera; Gen V 3.25 pulley, N*, VS Cam, 180 stat, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj. Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS  |
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dscott2000
Member
Name: Scott
Age: 28
Location: Kansas City, MO
Joined: 2008-07-27
Post Count: 160
Contribution: 512
Integrity: 0
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:24 pm | |
| Thank you all for the advice! The thermostat WAS stuck open. I went ahead and replaced it with a 180 t-stat and it is working perfect! Thank you!! _________________ 1990 Buick Riviera Series 1 3800, gutted airbox, B&M shift kit, Thrush exhaust, 800 watt stereo, and Baer brakes. |
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ibmoses
Addict
Name: Bert
Location: North Alabama
Joined: 2008-02-03
Post Count: 1486
Contribution: 4133
Integrity: 22
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:30 pm | |
| That is excellent! Bert _________________ 99 Riviera(on the left) "Cruising Missile" Midnight Blue Pearl 90,000 miles GuttedAirBox 70GS455(on the right) Diplomat Blue "Howitzer with windshield wipers" |
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AA
Administrator
Name: Aaron
Age: 32
Location: C-bus, Ohio
Joined: 2007-01-14
Post Count: 9474
Contribution: 3477
Integrity: 39
| | Subject: Re: Thermostat Stuck Open * Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:51 am | |
| That's great news! Just want to say, this thread is what our forums are all about: 1. Member has problem. 2. Fellow members offer suggestions. 3. Member tries low-cost solution. 4. Problem is fixed - at minimal expense & inconvenience. Nice job, guys! In the future, use this thread as a model to help out others when they need it. I'm tagging the subject with a star (*) to indicate a "model tech thread". Best, AA admin _________________ |
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