Firebird won't WARM UP...

[Need4Camaro]

I have a 2002 Pontiac Firebird and I had to replace my Water Pump recently... The first replacement leaked within a week of installation so under warranty I replaced it. The second one doesn't leak. Also the Thermostat was replaced about a month ago with a 195 unit... I put in two jugs of 50/50'd Super Tech Antifreeze... and now my car won't warm up period... this is after hours of driving it even on the interstate... it will BARELY stay over 100 degrees... repeat - the needle is WELL below the first quarter mark...

It IS 20 degrees outside but even in the coldest conditions it never ran THIS cool... The heat is also cold...

**New Water Pump**
**Relatively new T-STat**
**Car won't exceed 115 Degrees Fahrenheit**
**Heat is relatively cool**

What is the cause of this?

[cam98aro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

bleed your coolant system, either that, or you got a faulty thermostat and it is stuck open

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

bleed your coolant system, either that, or you got a faulty thermostat and it is stuck open

How do I bleed this thing? Whats the procedure to bleeding?

[cam98aro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

How do I bleed this thing? Whats the procedure to bleeding?

1. start the car and let the temp rise
2. find your thermo housing, there should be a small brass screw on top
3. open it up a tiny bit, and you should see coolant come out, keep it open until you see a steady stream of coolant (no bubbles, or spitting)
4. shut the car off, and let it cool down for a bit, and top off the radiator

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

1. start the car and let the temp rise
2. find your thermo housing, there should be a small brass screw on top
3. open it up a tiny bit, and you should see coolant come out, keep it open until you see a steady stream of coolant (no bubbles, or spitting)
4. shut the car off, and let it cool down for a bit, and top off the radiator

well the problem is, the temp isnt getting hot enough for the Thermostat to open, so can I still technically bleed it?

[cam98aro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

well the problem is, the temp isnt getting hot enough for the Thermostat to open, so can I still technically bleed it?

yes, try bleeding it still. you cant rely on your temp sensor for that, although it will usually show signs of overheating.

try the bleeding process first, if that doesnt help, get a new thermostat, or make sure your gasket didnt tear when you put it in and coolant isnt bypassing it.

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

Tried bleeding it, as soon as I opened it I just got a constant flow - no burps or interruptions... I did it for about 30 seconds and nothing but fluid came out...

Should the T-Stat be under warranty or am I out of another $12???

[cam98aro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

Tried bleeding it, as soon as I opened it I just got a constant flow - no burps or interruptions... I did it for about 30 seconds and nothing but fluid came out...

Should the T-Stat be under warranty or am I out of another $12???

im sure you can take it back and tell them its not working right.

but I would make sure that the gasket that goes around the thermostat didnt get pinched/ripped when installing it

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

Temp is in the 40's... car would normally be quite warm by now... snow is melting... but still between the 100 degree mark and quarter mark... even sitting still it wont reach 210...

Last time my thermostat got stuck it DID reach 210... it just took much longer for it to happen...

[landj]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

If you bought a "fail-safe" thermo, I'd say that its a stuck open thermo. The "fail-safe" thermos are absolutely true to their name. They always fail, hence the word "fail," 99.5% of the time they fail open, therefore they are (supposedly) "safe." I say supposedly, because running a car with an open thermo for long periods of time can damage an engine.

Buy a Napa Gold Thermo (or some other made in USA thermo with a big honking wax piston and beefy construction).

[Need4Camaro]

Re: Firebird won't WARM UP...

Yeah, it was the thermostat... I fixxed it.