Temperature stuck at cold

I have a 1995 Ford Explorer 4x4. For a while now my temperature gauge
barely rises above "Cold". Other than that car seems to act fine. Is
this a problem? If so, what would I be damaging if I don't get it fixed?

same problem. Its pretty common as an indication of a stuck thermostat.
Costs about $180 if a dealer fixes it.

Thanks .... Is this something easy for me to fix?

Is it possible you need a new thermostat? It would cause your engine to
run cold.


"wdbillingslea" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
|I have a 1995 Ford Explorer 4x4. For a while now my temperature gauge
| barely rises above "Cold". Other than that car seems to act fine. Is
| this a problem? If so, what would I be damaging if I don't get it fixed?
|

Yeah, it's pretty easy. Probably take you 15- 20 minute is all.

"wdbillingslea" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
| Thanks .... Is this something easy for me to fix?
|

Wow, I'm glad I do my own maintenance, when possible. Took me about two
hours to do this, including dropping one of the bolts onto the front axle,
and spending 15 minutes trying to find it. Leisurely pace, including
draining all the radiator fluid which isn't really necessary at all.

$5 part, and $175 labour eh?

Paul

"davidgmg" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> same problem. Its pretty common as an indication of a stuck thermostat.
> Costs about $180 if a dealer fixes it.
>

..... not including the time to ensure that all the air is purged from the
cooling system. This will require enough time to ensure that the thermostat
is open and the heater is blowing hot air (signifying no air plug).

No job is complete untils it's complete. While some may change their own
thermostat and not count the time taken to ensure the job is right.....
others may change the thermostat and call it done - leaving themselves to
the mercy of the overheat and crack the head gods (or the stuck in rush hour
traffic with the helicopter broadcasting your image as being the cause of
this particular traffic jam).

Saying that the entire job takes 15 - 20 minutes belittles those that must
take the time to ensure that the job is right ... these are the people that
catch **** for taking the time or catch **** when the thing cooks...

I see one quote for $180US... I see 15 minutes in the driveway at home
(that's one I hear all the time).... the correct answer is somewhere
between. The correct answer also includes checking the integrity of the rest
of the cooling system - the condition/strength of the coolant - and sundry
other items.


"John Riggs" > wrote in message
...
> Yeah, it's pretty easy. Probably take you 15- 20 minute is all.
>
> "wdbillingslea" > wrote in message
> lkaboutautos.com...
> | Thanks .... Is this something easy for me to fix?
> |
>
>

Good points Jim. I must say, I spent about 20 mins checking and re-topping
up the coolant, and running the heater before I declared it a job well done.
10 minutes double checking I installed the thermostat the correct direction.
I'd put myself out of business if I did this for a living.

Paul

"Jim Warman" > wrote in message
news:O_2Ad.33282$dv1.17237@edtnps89...
> .... not including the time to ensure that all the air is purged from the
> cooling system. This will require enough time to ensure that the
> thermostat
> is open and the heater is blowing hot air (signifying no air plug).
>
> No job is complete untils it's complete. While some may change their own
> thermostat and not count the time taken to ensure the job is right.....
> others may change the thermostat and call it done - leaving themselves to
> the mercy of the overheat and crack the head gods (or the stuck in rush
> hour
> traffic with the helicopter broadcasting your image as being the cause of
> this particular traffic jam).
>
> Saying that the entire job takes 15 - 20 minutes belittles those that must
> take the time to ensure that the job is right ... these are the people
> that
> catch **** for taking the time or catch **** when the thing cooks...
>
> I see one quote for $180US... I see 15 minutes in the driveway at home
> (that's one I hear all the time).... the correct answer is somewhere
> between. The correct answer also includes checking the integrity of the
> rest
> of the cooling system - the condition/strength of the coolant - and sundry
> other items.
>
>
> "John Riggs" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Yeah, it's pretty easy. Probably take you 15- 20 minute is all.
>>
>> "wdbillingslea" > wrote in message
>> lkaboutautos.com...
>> | Thanks .... Is this something easy for me to fix?
>> |
>>
>>
>
>

I've been doing it since I was 16, Jim. It really doesn't take much
longer than that, including purging any air caught in the system, but I
guess there are those things that happen.
What ever happened to the days when boys were taught these things in
school?

"Jim Warman" > wrote in message
news:O_2Ad.33282$dv1.17237@edtnps89...
| .... not including the time to ensure that all the air is purged from the
| cooling system. This will require enough time to ensure that the
thermostat
| is open and the heater is blowing hot air (signifying no air plug).
|
| No job is complete untils it's complete. While some may change their own
| thermostat and not count the time taken to ensure the job is right.....
| others may change the thermostat and call it done - leaving themselves to
| the mercy of the overheat and crack the head gods (or the stuck in rush
hour
| traffic with the helicopter broadcasting your image as being the cause of
| this particular traffic jam).
|
| Saying that the entire job takes 15 - 20 minutes belittles those that must
| take the time to ensure that the job is right ... these are the people
that
| catch **** for taking the time or catch **** when the thing cooks...
|
| I see one quote for $180US... I see 15 minutes in the driveway at home
| (that's one I hear all the time).... the correct answer is somewhere
| between. The correct answer also includes checking the integrity of the
rest
| of the cooling system - the condition/strength of the coolant - and sundry
| other items.
|
|
| "John Riggs" > wrote in message
| ...
| > Yeah, it's pretty easy. Probably take you 15- 20 minute is all.
| >
| > "wdbillingslea" > wrote in message
| > lkaboutautos.com...
| > | Thanks .... Is this something easy for me to fix?
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

Does your heater heat up as quickly as it used to? Is the hot air from the
heater good and warm? If so, it could just be the guage. I wouldn't worry about
it if everything seems to be working good.