Is my car's thermostat messed up?

Question

I bought a used 1999 Ford Contour on Thursday of this last week. With the temperatures as low as they've been I've needed to use the heat, but the car doesn't heat up at all unless I'm idling in drive for more than five minutes, but once I start driving again it cools off. Does that mean the thermostat is stuck open like my grandpa says, or do I just have a kick-butt radiator?

Answer 1

It does sound like its the thermostat. If I was you Id take it to either the place you bought it from or a mechanic that you trust and ask them to check it out. Take it immediately because if it is the thermostat and it gets worse it could do major damage to your car. The thermostat is easy to fix but if it is something like that head gasket as the other guy said you should take it back to the dealer there is a law called the no lemon law and a car with a bad head gasket is as lemon as they get. I hope this helps you.

Answer 2

There is a chemical test for detecting exhaust fumes in the cooling system. This is used if the head gasket is just starting to leak. In your case I wonder if the mechanic just never got the air pocket out of the system. You can try purging the air yourself. Take the radiator cap off the radiator. Set the climate controls to the hottest setting and turn the blower fan off. It helps if the front of the car is jacked up or you park the car with the front higher then the rear. Start the motor and run it for 15 minutes to get the car up to operating temperature and the thermostat opens. Top up the coolant, rev the motor to 2,500 rpm and squeeze the upper radiator hose a bunch of times to help move the air pocket out. When the air is completely out of the system you should have good heat at idle speed, set the heat to come out of the center vents so you can check it. If the head gasket is bad, you will either get a geyser that shoots 6 to 12 inches out of the radiator from the compression pumping into the cooling system or a mechanic with the chemical test tool will have the blue chemical turn yellow which indicates exhaust in the coolant. Most of the time it's just an air pocket because these vehicles are hard to bleed air from. An "Airlift" brand vacuum tool is also a very good way to get air out of a cooling system. If you don't do this yourself find a mechanic with the Airlift fill tool.

Answer 3

Thermostat Likely is Stuck Open + Low or Bad Coolant that needs to be Changed! Add 50-50 Clean Water & Anti-Freeze. Also Check to make sure the Radiator Fan is Cycling Properly, Could be Stuck On, Bad Relay!

Answer 4

It may be your thermostat. But I would also check your antifreeze level in your radiator. If you don't have enough you wont get heat. You may also have a cracked head. Check your oil fill cap. If it has a white looking stuff on it you have water in your oil usually meaning a cracked head. A cracked head usually means the end to a used vehicle as they are expensive to fix.
Good luck

Answer 5

Hopefully, it is a thermostat. Be sure to check the coolant level and make sure it is full.

Get the car looked at very soon, as if there is a problem, you can take it back to where you bought it, and have them repair it.

good luck.

Answer 6

Don't .....I repeat Don't kick butt the rad ......It sure sounds like a thermostat stuck open .......but 2 other possibilities are a low coolant level .....and make sure your rad. fan is not engaged all the time...it should be on or somewhat locked up only after your engine is at operating temp......Daryl .....PS.......got to love those grandpas...!

Answer 7

Yea i would say have the thermostat checked out.

Answer 8

It could be the thermostat, but it could also be a bad head gasket, get your grandpa to investigate.

Answer 9

i am a certified mechanic and yes your thermostat is stuck.