Ok. I have looked for this sort of topic and haven't really found any of the same issues or fixes to it. I hope someone knows what the issue could be because it is getting dang cold out here in MI.
In the morning I usually start my car (2000 Cavalier 2.2L) about 15-20 minutes before hitting the road and dropping off my kid at school. The temp on the guage barely breaks 100-110 degrees. After driving about 5 miles to the school and then another 3 miles to work the temp still only registers mayber 120-140. This has been going on for a few months. Because of the warmer weather I didn't think about it but now that it is getting colder well...
I have changed out the thermostat last summer and changed the fluids again this year in hopes to get something but there hasn't been any improvement. What other things could be an issue. The fans work, well 3 and 4 on my HVAC control work. There is coolant in all the hoses and there are no air bubbles when I squeeze the hoses. If anyone has any ideas I am all ears.
faulty thermostat... They have been known to fail out of the box. Possibly the Radiator Cap is faulty/incorrectly installed, and isn't letting the cooling system pressurize, might cause it not to heat up. Other than that... I'm not too sure
Heater core blocked.
I'd replace the thermostat as suggested, most likely suspect.
Cooling fans on all the time if they are needed or not?
So you have no heat? or is it warm?
Did you read the no heat sticky at the top of the page?
I will try to replace the thermostat again. Hopefully it's not the heater core. As far as checking the sticky up top, no. I didn't think this was a maintenance topic but I stand corrected.
The fans don't run constantly which is what threw me off too. They don't kick on until about 170-180 degrees like they should.
I have no heat until the engine shows near 140 degrees, then I can start feeling some warm air. If I drive for a while and let it sit, it can get warm, sometimes reaching 180-195, but as soon as I take off the temp drops very fast. Back to 100 within minutes.
Had the same problem.I was replacing the thermostat with a orielly brand thermostat and continued to do this after about 3 thermostats and still the same problem i went with an ACDelco thermostat and havent had the problem since!
Use nothing but an AC Delco thermostat. I've had nothing but problems with any other brand.
Your car may do 13 sec @ 103 mph, but my car does 146db @ 35 hz.
