running hot, no heat

[TurboTuli]

Its recently gotten a bit colder where I live(probably in the 30s in the morning when I drive to work) and the last 2 mornings by the time I get to work(about 7 miles away, mostly highway), my temp gauge is on the 3rd to last hash mark and steam is coming from the coolant overflow tank. When it was warmer, the temp gauge usually stayed at the 3rd hash mark. I've also noticed that the heater doesn't blow any warm air anymore, and when the temp gauge gets high it smells a bit like coolant. It used to take quite awhile to warm up, but eventually it did. Something wrong with my heater core? ideas?

[CA19DET]

HG? bleed the system as per the FSM, check for leaks..

sorry but kinda sounds like HG

[boost_boy]

Its recently gotten a bit colder where I live(probably in the 30s in the morning when I drive to work) and the last 2 mornings by the time I get to work(about 7 miles away, mostly highway), my temp gauge is on the 3rd to last hash mark and steam is coming from the coolant overflow tank. When it was warmer, the temp gauge usually stayed at the 3rd hash mark. I've also noticed that the heater doesn't blow any warm air anymore, and when the temp gauge gets high it smells a bit like coolant. It used to take quite awhile to warm up, but eventually it did. Something wrong with my heater core? ideas?

Have you tried removing your thermostat? Heater cores will rot and leak before they get clogged, so I'm 100% sure your thermostat is faulty, especially if it's the same one that came with the engine.

Dee

[TurboTuli]

although I tend to agree with you that thermostats usually go bad, it seems to be working fine as once the thermostat is reading hot, there is steam coming from the overflow tank...

i don't really know anything about heater cores, but I know I'm not getting any heat inside the car...

[boost_boy]

although I tend to agree with you that thermostats usually go bad, it seems to be working fine as once the thermostat is reading hot, there is steam coming from the overflow tank...

i don't really know anything about heater cores, but I know I'm not getting any heat inside the car...

Water is not circulating through your engine, hence the reason why water is not circulating through your heater, hence the reason why your car is not getting warm on the inside, hence the reason why you're going to over-heat your engine if you don't pull that thermostat.

Dee

[Sil40_Mayhem]

although I tend to agree with you that thermostats usually go bad, it seems to be working fine as once the thermostat is reading hot, there is steam coming from the overflow tank...

Could it be that you're mistaking the thermostat for a thermometer? The latter gauges temperature, the former controls the flow of water/coolant to the motor. According to your account, methinks boost_boy is on the right track.

[teddy]

agreed...My guess would be the thermostat. What's the big deal in replacing it anyways? They are pretty cheap and very easy to get to.

[TurboTuli]

ok, that makes a lot of sense. I was being retarded earlier :P Where is the thermostat located? I'll pick one up tonight...

[jt15833]

follow your bottom radiator hose to the motor its a triangular housing with 12mm bolts. pull it and put ur t-stat in a pot of water and turn it on hot. you can stick a thermometer in there if your feelin crazy, but just watch, if it doesnt open before boil = bad, it should actually open around 82 or 86 depnding on the tstat. make sure temp control is on hot before refilling coolant to get coolant through the core

[float_6969]

It's not the bottom hose, it's the top hose...

[rico05]

Make sure and go to Nissan and get one for a 1988 Pulsar NX SE 1.8l. I got one from O'Reilly for like $3, but it was 88 deg. one, and my Nissan one is now 82 deg.

[TurboTuli]

I picked one up today from the dealership for a s12 with ca18et. Its an 82 deg one and says on the box it works with all CA engines...

[TurboTuli]

replaced the thermostat and I have heat again! It still takes forever for it to blow warm though, does everyone have this problem...?

[rico05]

From cold you mean? It should take a few minutes to warm it up.

[boost_boy]

I picked one up today from the dealership for a s12 with ca18et. Its an 82 deg one and says on the box it works with all CA engines...

If this thermostat is in fahrenheit, no wonder the thing takes forever to get warm (It's too cool of a T-stat).

Dee

[TurboTuli]

lol, no its 82* C/180* F

[boost_boy]

lol, no its 82* C/180* F

I kinda knew it, but I had to take a shot anyway .

Dee

[float_6969]

Mine seems to take forever. But when it's 11*F outside, it doesn't matter what car it is...