What to do if your car thermostat is stuck?
Step 2: Check the radiator hoses. If you notice that the engine is hot but the radiator and the upper radiator hose are cool to the touch, there may be a thermostat issue. Both hoses should be warm to hot. If one hose is cold and the other hot, this is a good indication your thermostat is stuck closed.
When does the thermostat say it was stuck or closed?
You may hear the phrase “the thermostat was stuck open or closed.” When the engine has been sitting for a while and is not warm, the thermostat will be closed.
How to check the status of your thermostat?
Part 3 of 4: Verify the status of your thermostat 1 Remove thermostat. Remove the thermostat from the thermostat housing. 2 Heat a pot of water. Bring the thermostat into your kitchen and put a pot of water on the stove. 3 Place the thermostat in the water. Using needlenose pliers, hold on to the thermostat and place it in the heated water.
How do you remove a thermostat from a stove?
Step 1: Remove thermostat. Remove the thermostat from the thermostat housing. Step 2: Heat a pot of water. Bring the thermostat into your kitchen and put a pot of water on the stove.
Step 2: Check the radiator hoses. If you notice that the engine is hot but the radiator and the upper radiator hose are cool to the touch, there may be a thermostat issue. Both hoses should be warm to hot. If one hose is cold and the other hot, this is a good indication your thermostat is stuck closed.
What happens when your thermostat gets stuck in the open position?
A malfunction can result in a trouble code, generated by the engine’s computer, which can turn on your check engine light. If your thermostat gets stuck in the open position, it’ll allow full, unrestricted circulation of the coolant. You might see these issues as a result: These are all byproducts of an engine that is running too cool.
What to do when your thermostat says one temperature?
When your thermostat says one temperature and you know the room is another, it may be dirty, tilted on the wall, or located where it can’t get a proper reading. 1 Turn the power off to the heating system.
How do you test a car thermostat?
It’s usually stamped on the thermostat itself – this is the exact temperature required for your thermostat to open up. Place the thermostat in boiling water (if you don’t have a thermometer). Check whether the thermostat is now open. A good thermostat should start opening up when placed in hot water.