alibaba

My temperature gauge used to be always at the center. It would go up one tick mark only on the very warm days (90s and 100s in California).

A few months ago the needle started to run mostly one tick mark to the cold side. The mechanic replaced the thermostat; now the engine goes to the center as it used to, and stays there. Fine; except...

The problem now si that it moves one tick mark to the right when the car is stopped, for example at a stop light. And the weather is not that warm yet...

When I open the hood, I see that none of the two radiator fans is working. When I turn the AC on though, the fans start working.

I learned this relation with the AC, from the archives; apparently, there are other cars behaving the same way. People are talking about this behavior as being normal, but they all mention the 225 engine. Mine is 180...

What happened? Did the mechanic install the wrong thermostat? Did mine engine become a 225 now?

Thank you,
Ali

coasTTal

Mine does the same after new thermostat. Possibly have air in the system.

alibaba

I heard about bleeding (or venting?). Do you know how this is done? Can I do it?

OldSchool AG

the fans WILL come on even with the A/C off, otherwise it would go much further than one tick past center.... drive to get up to operating temp, then let it idle and watch to ensure the fans are coming on with the A/C off. I'm sure it's fine.

alibaba

Something changed...

Maybe my original thermostat was defective since the beginning?

Ali