water pump or radiator - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

good_old_geo · 06-14-2010, 09:39 AM

Hi Guys,

I'm about to take my prizm with 223 k miles on a 2000 mile drive. For a few years now I noticed when the car is running that the temperature just rides a tick below the middle mark. I did not think anything was wrong but I rode in my friends corolla and I noticed his cars temperature indicator just rides midway between the bottom and mid mark. During the winter when I open the vent the temp goes way down to where it looks like in my friend's corolla. I think my radiator has some blocked passages but I couldn't help but think my water pump may be having problems as well. I'm not loosing any coolant though. My water pump is the original form the factory. Any thoughts?

speedy25 · 06-14-2010, 12:14 PM

thermostat first.

Water pump when you replace your timing belt.

If you still have problems then its the radiator.

Although the description of your problem can be differences between gauge components or your friend has a different temp thermostat.

-SP

good_old_geo · 06-14-2010, 01:10 PM

the water pump is not driven by the timing belt. its got its own separate belt I believe. The thermostat is relatively new.

wheredoesthisgo · 06-14-2010, 09:30 PM

Dude, mines a 93 and it ran a tick below the middle mark when i got it. And still does, dont worry about it. Mine does not budge any higher. Just keep an eye on it and you will be fine. Dont worry about what your friends car is doing. Yours is acting normal. I hope you didnt start tearing into it to get the temp gauge where you think it should be.

cipher93 · 06-15-2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheredoesthisgo

Dude, mines a 93 and it ran a tick below the middle mark when i got it. And still does, dont worry about it. Mine does not budge any higher. Just keep an eye on it and you will be fine. Dont worry about what your friends car is doing. Yours is acting normal. I hope you didnt start tearing into it to get the temp gauge where you think it should be.

Yeah, it sounds to me like he actually is running a bit cooler than the norm, not you, but it can be anywhere from where his to where your is based on other reports. Mine is a little below the mid mark.

Steelballz · 06-16-2010, 06:33 PM

its normal to vary slightly, as long as you're near the 2keys on the temp guage it will be fine.
my thermostat is stuck open, and my rad fan isn't working...temp guage is though so the car is still fine as is the HG.its all about keeping an eye on the guages