I changed my stat at the end of the summer to a 180. Its supposed to be 195,but i figured it would help keep the car a little cooler during the summer, without drastically going to a 160. I have no heat,living in chicago. The heat used to get a tiny bit warmer at idle, but now,seems like nothing at all. I figure its gotta be cracked because if it was frozen, the coolant wouldnt get through,and the car would over heat right? I can see probs with a 160, but a 180?! I think i have other problems?

 

I would think that you wouldn't freeze. You should feel something more than luke warm. Not sure man, what is your normal operating temp in the winter, is it around 180°?

 

it takes quite awhile, but i wanna say around 200.

 

Been there, done that. It bites, doesn't it?

Start by replacing the stat, remember that these are reverse flow engines... - if that doesn't work, then you probably have a clogged heater core, which seems common on these cars.

First option is to remove the heater hoses from the core and flush it; it's easily accessible from the engine compartment. Hook up a hose and water source to one side of the core, and another hose to the other side of the core into a bucket or something. Don't use high pressure, a steady stream should do.

Second option is to replace the core (very expensive, but rather easy). Takes about a half an hour, being patient and careful.

 

what can it be clogged with? just dirt?

 

It can be clogged with rust from oxidation and/or improper mixture of coolant/water.

It's also possible (though unlikely) there is an air pocket in your cooling system, requiring a bleed down. (do a search for the procedure).




hey, where did my post count go?

 

Common Problem...just flush the heater core.

 

What he said ^
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Yeah i have a 160 in my car and i've had heat for the last three years until this year i have nothing. If i let it sit there and warm up to about half way on the gauge i still have no heat. It is the heater core i know that because my friend had the same problem and he said it's that dexcool stuff that clumps up in the heater core. He did that thing with flushin it out into a bucket and his works fine now with a 160 in there. I'm going to do mine tomorrow.

 

Thanx for all the replys. Im gonna flush the core and hopfully that does it.

 

Make sure when you flush, you flush from both sides. Switch back and forth from the inlet to the outlet. Make sure you see good clear running water before you put everything back together.

 

So no one thinks its could be the 180 stat?