Got a 1994 Cavalier VL with the 2.2L 4 cyl.

The thing is in the summer the needle always reads between 1/4 and 1/2 and when it reaches half for example when idling, the fan will turn on which is normal.

Now in the winter here, the temperature needle will come up to just a hair above 1/4 and then drop below 1/4 as the thermostat opens. When driveing, the themperature will never get above 1/4 which is really taking a lot of time to warm up the interior.

Is this normal or do I have a partially open thermostat?

It should be running hotter than that.

I would try a new thermostat.

Yea, my thoughts too.

It should be between 1/4 and half when operating regardless of the season.

Anyone else with a 1994 or older to comment on this?

The thurmastat sounds right. Is your radator under pressure, that also could be it. It shuld be under pressure.

so if when driving you are between 1/4 and 1/2 that is normal because my car alwasy use to go up all the way to 1/2 until i took it in to get the head gasket replaced because it was leaking antifreeze and my heater works even better now..

thermy from napa works don't buy a cheap one