Tempature gauge only reading at 25%? and where is our rear shock top mount?? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BeatupRolla · 08-20-2011, 07:27 AM

Well so far the 88 corolla i just recently picked up runs pretty good, except that the tempature always only at 25% all the time(when fully warmed up), if not maybe a bit less.. im pretty sure its suposed to be around under half? is my thermostat broken??

also i have bad rear shocks and looking to replace them, but they have no rear top mount located in the trunk? or do we not have one?

90 GP · 08-20-2011, 07:58 AM

Thermostat, and cooling system might need flush. It should run at midpoint and when get above that the fans should come on long enough to bring it back to midpoint. You have struts (not shocks) in back. The top bolts accessible under rear parcel shelf. You need a spring compressor to remove spring and mount from strut to reinstall to new strut. Not really a DIY thing.

BeatupRolla · 08-20-2011, 08:15 AM

hmm i have heard the fan come on befor, the coolant looks fresh, nice and green, i did top off with some water cause it was not complete full but still doesnt run to the middle.. what else could it be? cant be the coolant cause its fresh??

good thing i got springs compressors lol, they have been sitting for 2 years since i last used them... finaly they can come to use... i should be able to do this my self now right? going to go for some used rear struts with springs at the junk yard but only if i get a good deal.. no doubt the top mount is probably seized up to even remove the old springs..

Edit- is there any chance my wheel could fall off while driving? im thinking of maybe just not bother fixing this and just drive as is... i will be taking the highway sometimes though so hmm.. i can live with the crappy turns but i just dont think i will live if the wheel falls off..

90 GP · 08-20-2011, 12:59 PM

There may be nothing wrong with the way the temp gauge is registering. You could replace thermostat and leave it go at that .You may not be driving it far enough to get fully warmed up. If you bought a complete strut assembly from junkyard could just unbolt your old and reinstall other unit. Wouldn't have to mess with spring compressor. Compressed springs can do nasty things if it lets loose while compressed.

***REN69*** · 08-20-2011, 03:45 PM

Most corollas I've seen and the ones I've owned always ran at 1/4 temp unless something was wrong with them, usually in Toyotas when the Tstat fails, it remains open so they only way you'll know it's done its when the car idles too high because it's still trying to warm up the car... I'd say to be sure put in a new thermostat, they're cheap to do.

BeatupRolla · 08-21-2011, 09:04 AM

yeah i think my thermostat is no good, for the firs time today i seen the tempature run to near middle.. but the thing is it took like 15 minutes of driving for it to rise up there... normaly cars should run to normal operating tempature in like 5 minutes from a cold start..

i got 2 questions.. where is the thermostat located?

and will a 89 gts coupe rear shocks fit on my non gts 4 door? i found a local parts car that i can get the struts from on craigslist.. the junk yards down here in vancouver are all over priced like always..

90 GP · 08-21-2011, 10:11 AM

Follow the lower hose to where it goes to side of block. There's a housing that is secured in place with two nuts. It's under there. Suggest a toy stat as it has a jiggle valve that's gets installed pointing up to bleed air. The aftermarket ones don't have it. Also will need new rubber gasket. For struts check out advqnce/autozone website and enter info for both your car and the 89 gts and see if numbers are the same.

BeatupRolla · 08-23-2011, 02:28 AM

thought i should update with some new problems that may or maynot be linked to the heating problem..

i checked the motor last night, the 2 radiator hoses were both sucked in, i took the radiator cap off and you could hear pressure releive.. also it was missing the same amount of coolant that was missing the first time.. about 50ml of coolant gone so i just topped off with some water.. i still have not picked up a thermostat from toyota yet, that will have to wait a few days but i did get a new radiator cap from lordco, good thing they are open late.. hopefuly the radiator cap is the reason why the hoses were sucked in, but i dont get why another 50ml of coolant was missing again..

90 GP · 08-23-2011, 05:36 AM

Could have a bad rad cap or a clog or pinch in hose going from coolant overflow tank to radiator. Are you keeping overflow tank filled to level mark? Could also have an air blockage in system. Did you park on incline with cap off run till warm and top off radiator and reinstall cap? IF there are no air blockages going on that coolant has to be going somewhere. Either leaking out( from a hose, radiator or heater or getting burned as in leaky head gasket.