I have a 1985 camaro berlinetta, it has a 4bbl, stock lg4. I had a 160 degree thermostat and the temp guage indicated that it was running at 110! I put the stock 195 thermostat in, now it is only running at 120ish. I removed the open element air cleaner and put the stock assembly on with the heat riser. The air comming out of the heater vents is only slightly warm, and the engine its self is not that hot. I would think that the thermostat is not even opening. I replaced it twice. What should I try now?

 

You really can't rely on the Temperature Guage on these cars, they are very inaccurate.

But, since you don't have heat, it may indicate the new T-stat is still not working, conversely, it may be your heater core itself.

To see whether it is the T-stat or heater core, let the car idle for a period of time. If the T-stat is bad, you car should still get hot after 15 minutes of idleing. You should even see your temperature guage move up a little (unless it is toast). But if after 15 minutes of idling and you still cannot get any heat from your heater, I would suspect your heater core (or something in the controls or fan).

FYI, I run a 160* T-stat and we have had temperatures of 0*F in the last few days. Due to the surface area of the glass, while driving on the highway, the interior never gets "hot", but it does get quite warm even with the 0*F temperatures.

Lastly, I have compared the temperature of my engine displayed by the temperature guage and compared it to what the CTS reads with my scan tool. The CTS is right on the money (within a couple of degress) from its rated temperature of 160*F. The actual temperature gauage reads definitely lower than it should be reading at 160*F. It generally reads too low at temperatures less than 200*F, and reads high on tempertures > 200*F. Been that way since 1991 when I got the car. GM gauges are not the most accurate.

[This message has been edited by Glenn91L98GTA (edited December 11, 2000).]