A couple weeks back we had our first cold morning (about 4 degrees) and I noticed that my truck (2000 Ranger, 4 Cyl) wasn't getting as warm as it was last winter. The Temp gage barely got above the bottom line and the air it was pushing was barely warm. I checked the coolant and it was OK. I took it in and had the whole system flushed and refilled, but they couldn't get a thermostat. I went out of town and the whole trip I was seeing the same issue: Temp gage barely above the bottom line and only luke warm air coming out of the vent. I have since had the thermostat replaced and the now the problem is actually WORSE. The temp gage doesn't even get above the bottom of the "C" and the air is barely warmer than the outside air. Looking for a little insight/advice. It is my only vehicle and I don't want to have to drop it off at a dealer or shop while they 'look into it' if there is something that I can do myself. This whole thing has already cost me enough and I am not worse off then when i started.

I guess the only other detail I can think of is that, now, when I shut off my truck, the temp gage actually goes UP into 'normal' range. Not the mid-point of the gage, but higher than where it has been all winter.

 

still sounds like a thermostat. but the last part is screwy


i was still able to get hot air when it was -15 last winter

 

It sounds like you have done all of the basic stuff you should have. Maybe try covering part of your radiator with a piece of cardboard to allow the coolant to warm up more. Just an idea, I know alot of diesel trucks have to do it in the winter to run properly. I'm also guessing your running a stock thermostat, I believe 195* for that motor?

 

Yeah, the guy who replaced the thermostat (195 deg) recommended covering the bottom part of the radiator. The kicker is, last winter I had no troubles and the only thing that has really changed is that I had my coolant flushed over the summer. The whole thing just has me stumped.

Oh, and regarding covering the radiator, the temp doesn't even rise when I am sitting still. I was parked last night after driving for about 20 minutes, then sat with the truck running for another 15 or so relatively shielded from the wind and there was still no heat.

 

Our trucks fans run all the time. They are not electric. Even if it is sitting idling, it is cooling. When it is idling first thing it is actually making the radiator colder and as the engine warms up it is cooled right back off in the radiator, so the truck never warms up. Try covering it halfway. This will restrict the airflow and help it out. Mine does the same thing til I cover it. Hope this helps.

 

mybe the fan clutch is seized up and it is spining and full speed

 

Maybe that is the problem. How would you know if the fan clutch was bad though?

 

Have you noticed a drop in your fuel milage or loss in power?

 

Maybe replace the thermostat again!
I have gotten a bad one before, took it back to the store got another and wala! fixed!

 

check the heater core? when it's warmed up check to see that the hose comeing out of the heater core is geeting as hot as the one going in. It might be a little cooler but it should still be hot.

 

Actually, I have notice a lose in gas mileage. I can replace the thermostat again, but how would I check the fan clutch? Sorry, my mechanical skills are pretty limited.

 

Even if the fan was locked up the whole time, it would still warm up eventually. These symptoms are 100% indicative of a thermostat stuck open. It will never warm up and you'll never get heat. Your mileage will also suffer because of it. When you shut it off, it gets warmer because it isn't being circulated through the radiator anymore.

Replace the thermostat.

 

With the truck (cold) running grab ahold of the top hose and squeeze. If its hard your t-stat is open if u can squeeze its closed. The t-stat should be closed unntil normal operating temps

 

HEATERCORE! is probably plugged up...

 

The heater core has no effect on the cooling of the engine.

 

...... first of all your wrong, with your heater going full blast I guarantee your vehicle will cool down, second the name of the post "no heat, no ideas" his heater dosen't work...... the heater core has everything to do with the heater. Just because his dummy guage says his truck is cold dosen't mean it is. My guage never gets into the "normal" range and my heater is so hot I can't stand it.

 

Well, I had the t-stat replaced, and I have heat now! Good thing too because it is only 14 degree here this morning. Thanks everyone!!

 

good you fixed it. though you'd allready rerplaced the t-stat though? i always throw my new ones in a pot of boiling water before installation to make sure they're working. :)

 

Hmm. I guess we weren't all wrong.

 

i didn't say everyone was wrong, but youre wrong about the heater core not being a possibility. he said he allready changed the thermostat.... when a heater dosen't work i think thermostat then heatercore. obviously in this case it was a bad new thermostat how can anyone know without looking/testing? whatever though. when you have a problem and want to be close minded go ahead, i just look at all possibilities. glad you're so smart and know everything though! must be nice.

 

Hmm.

All the symptoms put together equaled a stuck thermostat. If you read beyond the topic title, you'd realize that.

 

I had recently had a problem with the heater and my engine would not go over 150 degrees. It turned out to be a stuck thermostat so I replaced it along with other things and I now have a hot heater and the engine reaches normal operating temp. Well 180 degrees with the lower temp thermostat.

 

when i said "your wrong" i was referring to you saying the heater core has nothing to do with the cooling system. Second, he said he replaced the thermostat.... i test mine first. I shouldn't assume everyone does but i did. MY BAD! everyone is wrong sometime, no need to be a jackass about it.

 

okay how about this i had a flush and fill and a new thermostat, which could be the problem and it worked for a little while but now my engine barely gets into the warm zone at all and if i turn the heat on it drops right to where it was before i started the truck. i'm not sure about a loss in power because i also just threw 31's on my truck but my mileage went from 24 to 13 lately. i had an egr position sensor go out and i got the tires before i fixed the sensor so i thought the sensor was the reason for bad mileage. and then i was thinking the tires but i didn't expect that big of a drop in mileage. my buddy said it might be be the coolant temperature sensor