Need help about my car, something might be wrong with temperature meter

[asdisme]

Hi there Auto RFDer,

I have a concern/question regarding my family car. I'm not to familiar with the names of specs and such, so bare with me :lol:

So on the dashboard, there is this thing with H and C (temperature meter I assume). I've been driving it recently and when my dad drove it the last couple days, he has noticed that the pointer is always pointing near C and he said it uses to and usually in the middle between the H and the C.

Any ideas? Anything wrong with the car?

Thanks!!!

[B0000rt]

Does the heat from the vents take longer to heat up than it normally would?

There could be one of two issues:
1) Low Engine coolant

2) Engine thermostat stuck open

Both fixes are fairly cheap, the first can be rectified yourself by adding more coolant, while the second requires abit of work by a mechanic. If it's issue 2, don't worry, you can drive around with the thermostat stuck open, but over the long run, it will cause more gas consumption, and your heater vents will take longer to warm up.

[asdisme]

Does the heat from the vents take longer to heat up than it normally would?

There could be one of two issues:
1) Low Engine coolant

2) Engine thermostat stuck open

Both fixes are fairly cheap, the first can be rectified yourself by adding more coolant, while the second requires abit of work by a mechanic. If it's issue 2, don't worry, you can drive around with the thermostat stuck open, but over the long run, it will cause more gas consumption, and your heater vents will take longer to warm up.

Thanks for the quick reply. Uhm I'm not too sure about how long the normal time would be, but in my opinion it does take some time to heat up. My dad said that after driving for 10 mins or so the car would be really warm, but now we still get the little chills.

Do you know how much it will cost if it is issue 2?

Sorry if my information to you is not clear or anything.

[Pete_Coach]

Does the heat from the vents take longer to heat up than it normally would?

There could be one of two issues:
1) Low Engine coolant

2) Engine thermostat stuck open

Both fixes are fairly cheap, the first can be rectified yourself by adding more coolant, while the second requires abit of work by a mechanic. If it's issue 2, don't worry, you can drive around with the thermostat stuck open, but over the long run, it will cause more gas consumption, and your heater vents will take longer to warm up.

If the coolant is low, temp will be high (H on the guage).
If the thermostat is stuck open, then the coolant is circulating throughout the engine and will not properly heat up, therefore cool air will be coming out of the vents.
There is no repair to the thermostat, the thermostat must be replaced. The coolant is drained and replaced during the thermostat repair process.

[asdisme]

If the coolant is low, temp will be high (H on the guage).
If the thermostat is stuck open, then the coolant is circulating throughout the engine and will not properly heat up, therefore cool air will be coming out of the vents.
There is no repair to the thermostat, the thermostat must be replaced. The coolant is drained and replaced during the thermostat repair process.

So i'm guessing it isn't issue 2 because I have warm air coming out, just not when I start up the car.

[Pete_Coach]

So i'm guessing it isn't issue 2 because I have warm air coming out, just not when I start up the car.

Well, I am not sure what your issue is then?
The engine starts, and runs. The thermostat stays closed so the fluid in the engine heats up and provides heat through your heater core. Eventually, the water in the engine gets warm enough to allow the thermostat to open and the water now flows through the radiator.
You said "he has noticed that the pointer is always pointing near C and he said it uses to and usually in the middle between the H and the C" which indicates to me that the guage is at C (cold) and no warm air is coming from the heater. If you are saying that the needle stays C (and never comes off C) and there is hot air coming out of the vents (when heat is selected), then yes, you could have a temperature sensor disconnected, corroded or failed.

[asdisme]

Well, I am not sure what your issue is then?
The engine starts, and runs. The thermostat stays closed so the fluid in the engine heats up and provides heat through your heater core. Eventually, the water in the engine gets warm enough to allow the thermostat to open and the water now flows through the radiator.
You said "he has noticed that the pointer is always pointing near C and he said it uses to and usually in the middle between the H and the C" which indicates to me that the guage is at C (cold) and no warm air is coming from the heater. If you are saying that the needle stays C (and never comes off C) and there is hot air coming out of the vents (when heat is selected), then yes, you could have a temperature sensor disconnected, corroded or failed.

Oh okay great, thanks for the information. Yes indeed the needle does stay at C or a little above it, but we do get heat tho slowly.

so how much do you think will it cost to repair this issue? Is it DIY or bring it to the auto shop?

Thanks a bundle again!

[asdisme]

bump? Any idea how to fix?

[CaptSmethwick]

I personally couldn't tell you for certain without seeing it.

If you're not getting consistent heat out of the vents in a reasonable time, then it is probably your thermostat - as suggested above, it could be that it's failed and stuck in an open position (typical failure mode). That's normally a cheap and simple fix with basic tools - Google should be able to point you to any number of sites to walk you through this fix (like this one http://www.ehow.com/how_2151169_change-cars-thermostat.html).

In the "old days", I used to swap my thermostat twice a year - one calibrated for summer and one for winter. It really is an easy job.

If the heat coming out of your vents is fine (both in temperature and the time it takes to get to that temperature) but the temperature is just not registering on the thermometer on the instrument panel, you could have a failing sensor. The fix for that is model specific and will likely require a mechanic or somebody with mechanical savvy.

It would help others here if you posted the year and model of the car. Also, have you checked your coolant levels either in the reservoir or the radiator itself? (I don't think this is the problem but it helps in a diagnosis) Finally, have you recently noticed puddles or splashes of green fluid under where you park the car?

[asdisme]

I personally couldn't tell you for certain without seeing it.

If you're not getting consistent heat out of the vents in a reasonable time, then it is probably your thermostat - as suggested above, it could be that it's failed and stuck in an open position (typical failure mode). That's normally a cheap and simple fix with basic tools - Google should be able to point you to any number of sites to walk you through this fix (like this one http://www.ehow.com/how_2151169_change-cars-thermostat.html).

In the "old days", I used to swap my thermostat twice a year - one calibrated for summer and one for winter. It really is an easy job.

If the heat coming out of your vents is fine (both in temperature and the time it takes to get to that temperature) but the temperature is just not registering on the thermometer on the instrument panel, you could have a failing sensor. The fix for that is model specific and will likely require a mechanic or somebody with mechanical savvy.

It would help others here if you posted the year and model of the car. Also, have you checked your coolant levels either in the reservoir or the radiator itself? (I don't think this is the problem but it helps in a diagnosis) Finally, have you recently noticed puddles or splashes of green fluid under where you park the car?

Thanks for the help! But i'm not quite sure about the stuff you asked for as i'm not knowledgeable with cars, i will have to check and report back later. But the car is a Toyota Tercel I believe it is a 92 year model. I also have not seen any green fluid under the car either.

[Wonivek]

I had the same problem in my 1993 Camry. Cost me $10 for a new thermostat which the mechanic replaced.

[asdisme]

My dad dropped by the autoshop and the mechanic said that it is difficult to DIY to change the thermostats because you have to remove the "router" or something like that. :confused:

[DaVibe]

Mine use to work ... doesn't seem to work anymore.
Not concerned.

[asdisme]

Also to update, it cost $200 to fix... :cry::-0