2005 Thermostat issues? Do they make a low temp one?

[Burgman]

Hi, new to the forum, love it!

Since the 2nd winter until now of having the car, I have had heating problems in the winter months. I have had GM check and change the thermostat as well as do a pressure check on the system, nothing really changed.

I'm in Edmonton, when its <-15C the car will come up to temperature on the gauge and I will get warm air, not hot. But if I stop at a light, the engine temp will drop. To me, this is a classic sign of an open thermostat. Is there something I am missing?

I also put cardboard in front of my rad to help keep it warm.

Does Chev make a low temp thermostat that is harder to open? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Thymeclock]

Hi, new to the forum, love it!

Since the 2nd winter until now of having the car, I have had heating problems in the winter months. I have had GM check and change the thermostat as well as do a pressure check on the system, nothing really changed.

I'm in Edmonton, when its <-15C the car will come up to temperature on the gauge and I will get warm air, not hot. But if I stop at a light, the engine temp will drop. To me, this is a classic sign of an open thermostat. Is there something I am missing?

Nope. It's the classic sign of a defective thermostat. Not only one that is stuck open, but also one that might be stuck as being partially closed.

I also put cardboard in front of my rad to help keep it warm.

If your car still doesn't get hot in the cabin with having a radiator block in place, something is definitely wrong.

Does Chev make a low temp thermostat that is harder to open? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

.

I don't know about parts that are exclusive to Chevy, but most aftermarket thermostats are available in different heat ranges. I'd look into it and change the thermostat if I were you. You can probably do it yourself.

[petrified.rabbit]

I think you mean a higher temp? your symptoms and such seem backward? If the thermostat was stuck open, the car would be cold when it is moving, and only warm up when sitting still.

If your car is running hot when you are moving, and cooling when you sit still.. the only thing that confuses me on this is why your symptoms only occur in winter. The only thing i can really come up with off the top of my head is a bad coolant mixture. Are running mostly water or too much coolant?

[Burgman]

Thanks for the quick replies, my antifreeze mixture is 50/50 or ~ -35C. Don't have an issue there. I've put 3 or 4 new GM thermostats in this thing and get a similar response. The one I have in is actually one of the better ones, but when its really cold outside, it takes a good 15 minutes of driving before the engine temp is at normal. Just wondering if anyone else in this climate has the same problems.

In comparison to my wife's ford escape, that is also a 4 cylinder, it is fully warm after 3 mins of driving. Something is wrong and should be simple but I can't figure it out.

I just took the escape out, drove 2.4km in 4 minutes and it was up to temperature. In the Aveo, the needle would not have come off the bottom yet.

And your right rabbit, I mean a higher temp thermostat, but in the past GM had only sold one temp range. I had bought an aftermarket one with a higher temp but it didn't come with a housing and I couldn't figure out how to get the old one out of the old housing, it looks like a one piece unit.

[Thymeclock]

Thanks for the quick replies, my antifreeze mixture is 50/50 or ~ -35C. Don't have an issue there. I've put 3 or 4 new GM thermostats in this thing and get a similar response. The one I have in is actually one of the better ones, but when its really cold outside, it takes a good 15 minutes of driving before the engine temp is at normal. Just wondering if anyone else in this climate has the same problems.

In comparison to my wife's ford escape, that is also a 4 cylinder, it is fully warm after 3 mins of driving. Something is wrong and should be simple but I can't figure it out. I just took the escape out, drove 2.4km in 4 minutes and it was up to temperature. In the Aveo, the needle would not have come off the bottom yet.

Now you are describing something different. You won't like to hear this, but there is probably nothing wrong. In my experience an Aveo does take an unusually long time to warm up, and unfortunately that affects fuel economy. Similarly, as in the case you mentioned, I have an old Mitsubishi Galant. On a 35 degree day that car will reach 1/4 on the temp gauge before traveling one mile. On the Aveo driving the same route, the temp needle will barely budge. The Aveo has been like that since it was new, so that's the nature of the beast.

We can venture guesses as to why this is. It may be a combination of factors. Frankly I've never seen a 1.6 liter engine that has such a large oil capacity. Probably the radiator is comparatively oversized, too.

I have designed a warm air plenum for the air box that seems to help, as well as an upper grille block. If and when I'm less busy I will post it here with photos and instructions.

[Burgman]

Thanks Thymeclock. Actually, I don't mind hearing that, because if that's the way it is then so be it but I just want that verification. Today for example it is currently -3C and the car warmed up very quick and maintained the heat. I realize that its a small engine and doesn't generate alot of heat but I'll keep looking around for a non GM high temp thermostat.

[Daox]

My Aveo never really blasts super hot air either. Its not like its not warm enough, but its just not hot hot.

[josefb134]

My aveo on a cold start starts to warm up after a mile or so of driving. I replaced the old thermostat with one from autozone with a part number of 58292 and it improved the warming of the vehicle by a ton. It comes with the housing and everything and it was very quick to put on. Heres a link to the thermostat i have

Duralast/Thermostat (58292) | AutoZone.com

Good Luck!

[Lola]

My 04 also doesn't warm up unless I'm driving. I run it close to 20 minutes every mornin and it'll be under 1/4... about 2 miles down the road it will hit right at the half line. Park it and let it run and it'll creep down to 1/4... The heater blows warmish air unless it's in recirc mode than it'll blow hot, but it'll fog out big time in a few minutes. The 4 parts stores in town only have the stock rated 195* T-stats in their system. I havn't looked online yet. I was hopin for somethin hotter like A 205* I just put in my truck.... I just put in a block heater and did a full coolant flush. I just assumed these Tiny motors don't make enough heat to blow hot when it's super cold outside... It's why I'm drivin my 496ci 8.1L today

[petrified.rabbit]

mine warms slowly. I have to say it must be 15 minutes before i realize i had the heat all the way up..

Help a faster warm up by not turning on the heat or the heater fan until the needle is to range.