Cold Temp Gauge

[matt3453]

Hello all,

I have a 1998 camry 4cyl that's been working great. I usually warm it up 15min before leaving for work and the car will warm up normally with the temp needle in the middle. However, when I begin driving and start my commute (20min or 25miles), the car's temp gauge needle begins to drop straight back to cold, and the car's heat begins to fail:

http://img821.imageshack.us/i/img0033se.jpg/

Now I experienced all the same after work, so I sat in the parking lot after coming home for 5-7min, and of course the temp gauge climbed back up to just about the middle and the heat was now nice and toasty:

http://img258.imageshack.us/i/img0035nk.jpg/

So when idle, the car warms up normally and heat works great; however, while in motion the car's temp declines and the heat is very poor.

Any ideas what's the issue? I've heard it might be a thermostat issue...how would you check it and if need be, replace it?

[wilsonman02]

Check your thermostat. It might be stuck open a little or all the way. So at idle its able to overcome the cold air but when moving it cant keep the temp up cause the thermostat is stuck open.

[matt3453]

I followed a thick radiator hose from the bottom of the radiator to a metal pipe /w two 10mm bolts kind of near but below the alternator. Should I remove the two bolts to get to the thermostat?

If so, what's the harm in just buying and replacing the old /w a new thermostat if its only $15-25?

[matt3453]

Replaced thermostat, but not w/o making a big mess

All good now, thank you!

[carsrus]

If you drain about half a gallon of coolant you wont spill to much coolant when you remove the thermostat.

Ive drained it into a clean bucket and then sieved it through with an old sock. But if you need a coolant change might as well drain it all. The 2.2 is only a 1 gallon cooling system.

[Mike Gerber]

"The 2.2 is only a 1 gallon cooling system."

It's actually 6.7 quarts.

Mike