Thermostat

[courtenay]

Further to my engine fan issues - I took my t-stat out. It's a Savara. I blew into all three openings and could blow freely through all three. I expected that the opening leading to the lower rad hose would be blocked. In looking into the guts of the stat, it looks pretty gibbled up (that's a technical term) - almost like someone's taken a screwdriver to it to jam it open.
Anyway - 2 questions arise:
First, could this have had anything to do with my fan problem?
Second, I'm assuming I should replace the t-stat. Any recommendations on where the best place is go get one?
thanks,
Bruce

[mdrburchette]

The t-stat could be the culprit. Get your thermostat from IAP, Vick's or Ricambi. You won't have much luck at a chain store.

[narfire]

Bruce' I might have one of those as well... the box is getting bigger
Chris

[azruss]

it seems to me that if you can blow air thru it, then it is also allowing coolant to pass. That would tell me that if the gage is reading high and the bottom of the radiator is cold, you have another problem. If it looks beat up, worthwhile to replace is so it doesnt stay closed.

[courtenay]

Hey Russ - the rad is the same temp top and bottom. I'm now pretty sure that since the t-stat is stuck in the open position, the water is circulating through the rad all the time. The only downside of this that I can see is that it will take the enging a bit longer to warm up than if the t-stat was working as it should. Given that I really only drive the car on warm days, I don't think this is a problem. I've ordered Mark's variable temp sensor to hook up to the existing fan, so this should take care of any issues with the temp sensor/gauge as I will be able to set the temp at which I want the fan to come on - regardless of what the existing sensor wants to do or what the temp gauge reads.
Bruce