Car hardly even warms up *fixed*
 

Since the weather has gotten freezing here my car almost never warms up. I put in a new radiator this summer. I'm also using a stock thermostat. I can drive around for maybe 15-20 minutes before the temp gauge will even start to move, and even then it doesn't get much hotter at all. If I turn my heat on full blast after I actually do manage to get the car warmed up, the temp needle will drop down lower. Any ideas? Cuz I don't have any more.

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

It's funny because since it's winter with a big mouth bumper, I got the same phenomenon. It takes an eternity to get it to normal temp. And if I I go down in a huge slope, the temp will lower. In the same slope, if it's windy with a bit of snow, the needle goes to the lowest point.

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

Don't feel bad Jon my hatch does the same thing. On my 15 minute trip to work my car never reaches even a 1/4 of the way up on the temp gauge.

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

maybe try what the big rig guys do and cover the rad up with cardboard...that is why they do that right?

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

get a higher temp thermostat, or maybe the one u have is bad, my dads delsol wouldnt warm up at all and the heater wasnt even warm, replaced the thermostat and works great now, it was just stuck open.

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

I doubt it's the T-stat, it's only a couple months old and the car warms up fine in warmer weather.

Thanks for the input guys, I guess this might just be normal. I've just never had a car that takes this long to warm up in the cold before.

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

Your dad has a del sol? never met your dad...but pardon me while I laugh AAAHHHAHAHH WAAHHAHHAA, OMG...you gotta understand...i'm picturing a big ole' burley guy with a beard driving a del sol that wouldn't warm up, and freezing...HOLY COW it's funny...

OK, so for some advice :-) I had this happen to my DA for a while...and I just added radiator fluid (in winter make sure it's 50/50 antifreeze) and this resolved it, car warms up faster (still takes 10 minutes in below freezing weather), and heater blows hot :-)

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

Story of my Canadian Life!!! -21deg Cel. or -5.8deg F when I let for work. And this is just the start of the season.

I block of the rad with a nice chunk of cadboard. helps a bit. BLock Heaters Work. A little 12v Cig. Lighter heater helps.

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

never put ur heating control speed past 2 and itll heatup no problem

i have a 94 with the same problemo

Re: Car hardly even warms up
 

Lol, I found out that exact thing. If I go above 2 it will actually drop my temperature.