If the thermostat is plugged or stuck closed, the vehicle will usually run very hot or overheat quickly. But sometimes, if the thermostat is stuck open, the vehicle will not heat up to normal operating temp.(hard to tell in summer and not particularly harmful, unless using air conditioning, but very noticeable in winter when the heater won't heat and the engine runs constant high idle). A more visual way to check for certain is to remove the thermostat from the engine (usually a fairly simple procedure involving only partial draining of the radiator, a couple of bolts, a gasket, and some sealant). Put the thermostat in a pot of water on the stove and boil it. Using a thermometer, check the temp. at which the thermostat opens and closes (most vehicles 185 - 215 degrees Fahrenheit). If no thermometer is available, then just the fact that the thermostat opens and closes around boiling tells you it's working (just not the specific operating temp. which matters in some vehicles and environments). However, as inexpensive (usually) as thermostats are, if one goes to the trouble of removing it from the car, one might as well buy a new one of the correct temp. range, install it in the vehicle and be done with it.
is car thermostat necessary in a tropicalize car?
Overheating or no heat from the heater are sure signs it is bad. You car is 12 years old, just replace it if you have a suspicion it is bad. You can test the thermostat but why bother? You will have to remove it to perform the test. Just replace it.
Generally, the cause is a thermostat that is stuck open. A good way to test is to turn the heater control to off for a few minutes, then turn on and see if you have heat. If you do, you need a new thermostat.
Take your thermostat out and put everything back together, run your car without a thermostat... If your car no longer overheats, replace your thermostat.
Take the thermostat out, start the car and let it idle, see if it over heats. With the thermostat out of your car, it should just constantly circulate water, making it take longer to heat up. If it heats up fast then chances are that your pump is out. DO NOT LET THE CAR REDLINE.
Electrical radiator fans are thermostat controlled, and won't start unless needed. With a bit of skill you can bypass the thermostat and test the fan itself, but testing the thermostat is a bit trickier.
no, the thermostat would have nothing to do with the car not starting.
The temperature gauge on a car fluctuates because the car's thermostat is opening and closing. The gauge goes up when the thermostat closes and the gauge goes down when the thermostat opens.
follow the top radiator hose to the engine and there will be two half inch bolts pull the housing off and that is your thermostat, replace in same position as the old one. p.s. is car overheating may not be thermostat, you can test thermostat in pan of boiling water and see if it opens or closes.
This is probably an indication that your thermostat is stuck open. Go to a radiator shop and ask them to test it.
Must be sticking, replace the thermostat.
In a car thermostat the element is wax