could my car overheating last fall have caused my thermostat to go bad? my temp gauge doesn't want to work right and everything else has been replaced and coolant temp on my scanner shows right where it should be-165-170.

 

Over heating as in the guage is in the red? I would look at your water pump and see if no water is leaking out of the pee hole. A bad stat would cause your car to over heat. Other things to look at are, are your fans kicking on, is there air in your coolant lines, and when was the last time you had the coolant drained and flushed?

 

Overheating can damage a thermostat. If I'm reading this right, you have the misconception that the thermostat gives the reading for the temp gauge. If your temp gauge isn't working, check the sensor in this pic:
http://shbox.com/1/temp_sensor2.jpg
There are two sensors, one for the PCM and one for the gauge. The scanner is giving you a temp from the sensor for the PCM, seen here:
http://shbox.com/1/temp_sensor1.jpg

The thermostat opens and closes based on coolant temperature. This allows the engine to warm up (thermostat closed), cool off (thermostat open), and keep from getting too cool (thermostat closing again). Hope this helps.

 

We've been all through the "where are the sensors" in a previous related thread. He has a gauge that reads different than the PCM. He replaced both sensors and still has a problem. I'm thinking maybe the t'stat isn't opening all the way.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...94#post3241894

He was also going to check the wiring for the gauge sensor in the head.

 

its a long story how my car overheated- was racing it-hose came loose.
anyhow all sensors replaced-wires and ohms are good... my stat must have gotten harmed from the heat. water isn't leaking anywhere-no air in lines i opened the bleeders while running. coolant in the car is brand new throughout the whole system.. any way to check when i pull my stat out to see if its bad.. years ago i bought the 160stat at autozone,and they don't carry it nor does advanced.. i have the stock one still. i would hate to stick it in then take the cover back off to put a new 160 in. scanner says the coolant temp was 167-170ish with the car running for 20mins.. seems like the stat must be bad...

 

You can test the thermostat in a frying pan with water in it and a food thermometer. Just heat the pan up and read what temp the thermostat opens on the thermometer. For some reason, I think I remember reading on the paper that came with my Hypertech NOT to try this test, as the thermostat is different somehow and this could harm it. Someone else would have to chime in on that.

You can get another 160* from Jegs or Summit for about $15.

 

Why do you think the car is overheating if the scanner shows 170 and you say your temp gauge is messed up. If you don't think the scanner temp or the gauge temp is correct I would buy a cheap mecanical guage and screw it into the hole for the gauge sensor. If it reads 170 or so you will know the gauge in your car is messed up.

 

i already ordered a new 160stat- if thats not the problem then i will just sell it online here. thermostat could not be opening all the way though, thats why i'm going to give it a try. otherwise it makes no sense wh ythe gauge in the car acts like its broke and not moving. wiring is fine and its a new sensor. the needle isn't stuck on the face, cause i can see it is able to move.