I have a 95 Avenger and have to change the thermostat every two years like clockwork. So it got changed a couple weeks ago. The man at the AutoZone said the most expensivethermostat would lock in the open position when it dies. This wayI would have heat when it goes bad. So I bought the expensiveone. And now I don't have heat. I think the no heat problem is something other than the thermostat.

I have to say that I think I did have heata few times since it was changed but not much. And the temperature gauge doesn't ever get up to that half way point that is normal for my car. It just goes up about a third of the way now. I don't think the vents are blocked because air is blowing out of them and the AC works just fine. What I get is slightly-not-coldair from my heater.

Somebody please help me.

Michelle : )

p.s. This thermostat came with a rubber ring on it to make it more effecient or something. I took it off cause I couldn't make the two parts that close over the thermostat close up so they sealed all the way. It just made a gap. What is up with that ring thing?

 

That rubber ring is to seal up the both sides of the thermostat, so that the only time coolant flows to the other side is when the valve opens. With that seal off, it's most likely allowing flow regardless of temp (the hotter it gets, the valve opens and allows coolant to cool down) and in turn it is most likely allowing the coolant to stay cool constantly.....good for the summer, not so good for the winter. If the coolant is constantly cooled, every time you turn on the heater, you inadvertantly help cool the coolant more by releasing that heat into the cabin. This constantly flowing thermostat is most likely the reason your temp gauge is reading way below normal also. This could also be affecting gas milage and causing your car to run rich.
You don't have to get the most expensive one either. A 190 degree thermostat is fine for stock appications, even one that's on the on the shelves.
So, if you still have the seal and it's in good condition, put it on, if not, then you'll have to buy a new one. Don't buy any special one, just a normal one.


Let me think some more about the odd premature wear on those other thermostats.


Oh and welcome to DF Michelle.

 

I do still have the ring. The thing is that I have changed the thermostat at least three other times and none of them ever had one of those rubber rings on it before. I did buy one before by accident (which I still have). I have gone to many auto parts places and asked for a gasket for that thermostat and everyone would tell me they don't make one. So I always used that form-a-gasket stuff. Once this woman told me they made a gasket so I bought what she said was a gasket and it was just that rubber ring but I couldn't see how it worked.

So this thermostat I have now just came with that ring on it. Also they had a gasket this time.The thing is with the ring on it I can't make the parts fit back together. There is at least an 1/8" gap where the gasket would seal things up. And I couldn't use the gasket with the ring on there.

Because it has always worked before without the ring on it, I would think that it should work just fine now. So I think something else is the matter with it.

Thanks,
Michelle

 

well, if you're temp guage stays low or takes a very long time to get to normal temp, the thermostat is bad. either that or like silver said, not sealed correctly. but it's more or less self sealing. i've never used a gasket/ring whenever i change the thermostats in my cars. if your car warms up like normal, but just doesnt' have it, it's possible that your heater core valve is bad. when you slide the "temperature" slider towards the red, it opens a valve and allows water to flow through the heater core, thus creating heat in the cabin. if it's bad, no/not enoughwarm coolant will flow through the core.

how long ago did you get your thermostat changed?

 

I just changed it a couple weeks ago. I drove it on Christmas day for 45 minutes (twice)and it never did heat up...as in I didn't have heat nor did the temperature gauge go up to its normal halfway point.

I am going to take the thermostat out and put it back in tonight. Then I can look for other problems.

Thanks for the info,
Michelle