I'm thinking the term "stuck" is not necessarily the right word to use for the problem with the thermostat - using the word "jammed" might be a more suitable term, as in "jammed open" due to the deteriorated rubber gasket that is around the movable valve in the thermostat.

Things were so much simpler in the old days when if a thermostat broke and would not open (ok, in that case it was stuck), one could remove the thermostat and drive without it till you bought a new one and found the time to install it. New vehicles don't like that at all any more.

 

The T-stat keeps the engine "warm enough" not "cool enough". Except when something gets stuck in the valve to restrict flow it has no impact on lowering the temp. It is CLOSED when the coolant temp is below about 180F and OPEN the rest of the time.

The design of the thing is to fail OPEN.

There can be instances where foreign object get stuck in the opening, like the rubber gasket gets malformed/dislodged. In short the t-stat does not normally cause "overheating", but instead "underheating".

 

I think I need to buy a code reader

 

HA! That didn't last long! Got about 15 minutes into my commute and it failed again - no a/c, no DIC readout and zip on the temp gauge.

 

Oh boy - what a pain. It could be that some of the rubber from the previous thermostat was left in the system and has jammed it open (I seem to remember one other poster had that happen, and he had to flush his coolant without the thermostat, then reinstall it...???).

When you fire it up next time, hopefully the digital temp gauge will be working - monitor it closely as it warms up - when mine went I could see the temp rise up till mid-180's F, then the displays would die.

I'll refresh myself with your situation by going back and reading more of your posts on this, and will see what else I can suggest.

 

Dbranga - have you actually changed the thermostat yet?

 

No whopper, not yet. Soon though, very soon. We just had a spell of hot, humid weather. No way I am going to make it thru the summer without the a/c!

 

You STILL haven't changed it?

Well, several of us have give you advice that will likely resolve your problem, and you still plod on without doing anything since you first reported this back on April 9.

I don't quite know what to say, other than I don't think anyone here can help you any more on the issue you are having.

 

Whopper - I appreciate everyone's input on here. It hasn't been an issue until it got hot and humid and I found out the a/c wouldn't work. I wanted to get as much input as possible before I dropped some $$. So, thanks for all the information!

 

I had someone put in a intake manifold gasket , now my service engine light is on and my temp gauge and a/c not blowing cold what is the cause?