Running Cold?!

[6LMonster]

This is something I noticed with my '96. Even when it was up near 100 this summer, the truck runs extremely cold. On the dash gauge the needle barely gets up to the start of the "Normal" line. Then this summer it would get closer to the "N" in normal.

Does anyone have some insight on this?

This winter maybe I should block off some of the grille so it will warm up.

 

[97PowerSmokerIA]

You either have a Great innercooler or your t-stats Stuck open if you turn your heater on does it blow out Hot air or cool?, if it blows out hot air you could possibly have a bad sensor or probe but if its cool your thermostats not closing, I run my 79 Bronco w/o a thermostat in it and it never gets above the "N" in normal.

 

[6LMonster]

Hmm...very interesting. I will have to check out the t-stat or if it even has one!

 

[DaveBen]

It has one, but it may be defective. Do not run without a thermostat. You can get a 203* thermostat if you want to make sure your truck is warm enough.

Dave

 

[johndeerebones]

You either have a Great innercooler or your t-stats Stuck open if you turn your heater on does it blow out Hot air or cool?, if it blows out hot air you could possibly have a bad sensor or probe but if its cool your thermostats not closing, I run my 79 Bronco w/o a thermostat in it and it never gets above the "N" in normal.

You're bronco should be fine, but on certain applications you will overheat without one, the water doesn't flow slow enough for adequate heat transfer to take place. I had this happen on a toyota engine once, didn't have a t-stat, but found a washer that fit in place of it to restrict flow a little, never overheated again.....

 

[6LMonster]

Update....well, I got to test the heater this morning (WUU HOO, I love cold weather!) and man that thing blows HOT air. It feels like it would burn ya. SO, that means my Tstat is working fine. So, I guess the sensor is a little weak. Oh well, I will probably just ignore it for now.

 

[97PowerSmokerIA]

sorry forgot to mention my 79 bronco isnt used for street application its used off road in the summer and like was said i had a washer in place to restrict flow a bit, had some problems with the vaccum system so i eliminated 90% of the old junk system so i just ditched the heater t-stat and all the needless stuff.

 

[iracemine]

cant you just check the resitance on the temp sender?

 

[95_stroker]

Just an FYI.......... the dash water temp gauge on the PSD is completely unreliable. Its nothing more than an idiot light with a needle.

 

[hheynow]

Only when you get a real water gauge will you know the real coolant temp. I'm at N. I'm at O. I'm at R. When I read these statements I laugh. With my 203*F t-stat I'm at 200-204*F when fully hot. The dummy dash needle decides where it hovers. When my coolant rose to 220*F last summer was I at A or L? Nope M.