i dont know what is wrong / please help

[extreme]

i bought a 93 s13 2 weeks ago and using this forum ive been able to fix most of the common problems on the 240sx

well my problem now is this my water temperature gauge is very low or completely dead after I drive my car for 15 minutes the indicator needle is only up to the second line or sometimes totally down (I notice that air coming from the vents is not hot either)after 30 minutes on the freeway the needle stay on the second line. and going downhill it goes all the way down again (air from vents is a little bit warmer but not normal)I check the cable that connect the coolant sensor but everything looks ok Any idea what can be the problem ,thanks in advance

[Didderson]

I'd say your coolant temp sensor might be dying. Either that or your actual gage for the coolant temp is dying.

Probably replace the temp sensor first bc its easiest lol.

[ashibah83]

do you have a thermostat installed? do you have any aftermarket parts, like a performance radiator, of fans? if you dont have any real amount of heat then i dont think its your gauge or sender, youcould always check by buying a aftermarket temp gauge from a reputible company like autometer

[kc240guy]

I have a vented hood and electric fans. It takes forever to warm up enough for the heater to make a difference. My aftermarket temp gauge stays around 120-140 most of the time unless I actually run it hard or drift, then it's around 160. I've only seen it hit 190 when setting at idle for a long time.

[extreme]

i dont have any new part installed . the weird thing is when im going downhill the needle just died all the way down

[j-z]

install a thermostat.... $10 at the zone...

[dnc8203]

It sounds like no thermostat if the heater is not heating up at all. i have a vented hood and electric fans, i have no problem getting up to temp. pull the thermostat housing to see if there is one in there. if there is. i bet its stuck open, which is better than being stuck closed...

[freakyjason]

Yep, I bought my first 240 without a thermostat in it once (not knowingly) and had the same symptoms. I'd be willing to bet that's what it is. Easy fix too. Good luck!

[koukis4teen]

^ I agree. Sounds like your thermostat is stuck open. It happens for no reason sometimes. I have even gotten ones straight out the box that never worked right. Easy fix though. Good lukk.

[Fr0zEn]

Maybe I am stupid. But from where I was looking, it looks like the thermosstat is in the front of the engine. Right? Looks hard to get to with the fan being installed and pully being there. or am I looking at the wrong thing?

[Dimebag-s13]

thermostat is a quick change and that is definitely what it sounds like because of your problems with the heater =D

[koukis4teen]

Maybe I am stupid. But from where I was looking, it looks like the thermosstat is in the front of the engine. Right? Looks hard to get to with the fan being installed and pully being there. or am I looking at the wrong thing?

Yeah I think you are looking at the right thing. The thermostat can always be found by tracing the top radiator hose. There are three bolts holding the housing on, two on top and one on the bottom that is a slight pain but not too bad. Thermostat just pops right out Don't forget to get a new gasket!
Modified by koukis4teen at 8:33 PM 4/18/2009

[extreme]

cool im going to replace it next weekend

[Shabbernigdo]

just use water pump sealant / black rtv to seal the pump and you dont need to buy a gasket.