Thermostat going out?

Question

I have a 95 Honda Del Sol, and I recently took it in to a Jiffy Lube to get a Tranny flush. After that I noticed that my temp gauge wasn't moving..I figured they they knocked out the wires or something, but then I notice that my heater wasn't getting hot anymore. So the gauge isn't broke, it's reading right. Sometimes the gauge moves up a little bit, but most of the time it barely moves at all and my heater is barely warm. I did have low coolant, and when I put more in it helped slightly..my next guess is the thermostat going out...any other suggestions? thank you:)

Answer 1

pop in a new thermostat and be done with it

Answer 2

It does sound as though you thermostat might be stuck open which typically results in an engine running cooler than normal. Definitely a better position to be in rather than having a stuck closed thermostat. The easiest way to see if it is stuck would be to fill the radiator with water to just below the radiator filler neck, with the cap removed have a friend start the engine while you observe the water. If you notice the water begin to move as if you were blowing on it that would indicate that the thermostat is stuck open and the pump is instantly circulating the water throughout the cooling system. The next thing you could try if that does not provide you with conclusive evidence is to remove the upper radiator hose where it attaches to the radiator(engine cool of course) and start the engine. If you see water begin to come out as soon as you start the engine you have a stuck open thermostat. Careful not to run all of the water out of the cooling system or you could overheat the engine.

Answer 3

Consider yourself lucky the T-stat got stuck in the "open" position.

They're cheap and easy. Get a gasket too.

Answer 4

You can always test your current thermostat, just throw it in a pot of boiling water.

Answer 5

make sure that you didnt use the antifreeze full strength if it was supposed to be mixed. that does cause it not to warm up also