1995 LeBaron engine will not warm up

[chuckie4373-3]

No matter what I try, I cannot get my engine to warm up in the winter. I have changed the thermostat several times. I even bought one from the dealer. I can cover the radaitor compleatly except for a 2" strip and the temp guage still will not get up more than half way to normal. I can let it set and idle for an hour and it will not warm up enough to turn the fan on. The guage is not wrong. After an hour idleing, you can hold your hand on the radaitor. This is the third winter I have used this car with no heater to speak of. If anyone has any ideas, please help. It's a 3.0L, automatic, conv.

[Creepyjon]

When you say it's not warming up, do you mean it has no heat inside, or the radiator isn't getting hot. If you have no heat, it could be a heater valve or a heater door, etc. If the radiator is not getting hot, a car normally don't get hot enough to kick on the fan when it's 30 degrees out. It could be a fan switch or sensor for the guage is messed up too, just some places to start.

[chuckie4373-3]

Originally Posted by Creepyjon

When you say it's not warming up, do you mean it has no heat inside, or the radiator isn't getting hot. If you have no heat, it could be a heater valve or a heater door, etc. If the radiator is not getting hot, a car normally don't get hot enough to kick on the fan when it's 30 degrees out. It could be a fan switch or sensor for the guage is messed up too, just some places to start.

I mean the engine will not warm up and therefore the heater will barely work. You can drive the car 50 miles and still be able to stick your finger in the radaitor without getting burned. It's like there is no thermostat, but I have replaced it several times..once from the dealer.

[macncheese]

you could always drain the radiator and run it that way (just kidding). are you using the 190 thermostat? a car overheating could be a couple of things, but a car NOT heating can only be a-tstat or b-too friggin cold outside. how bout if you drive it 50 miles and then let it idle for ten minutes?
tony

[Mikanik]

My 94 lebaron would do the same thing until I did the timing belt and changed the water pump when I was in there. Now the car heats right up and has plenty of warm air. I think it was the water pump doing it. Next time you do the timing belt throw a new water pump in and see if that helps.

Nick

[asspants]

Originally Posted by Mikanik

My 94 lebaron would do the same thing until I did the timing belt and changed the water pump when I was in there. Now the car heats right up and has plenty of warm air. I think it was the water pump doing it. Next time you do the timing belt throw a new water pump in and see if that helps.

Nick

My 95 'baron automatic just like yours did the SAME exact thing
Did the timing belt, and changed the water pump and fixed the problem.
It's interesting to note that the water pump was very very hard to turn by hand -- it was squealing for a little bit at startup But the engine still was not overheating. and heater was not getting hot.

Have fun replacing the water pump though. You have to tear off the whole front of the engine and the right motor mount and the right front tire to get at the timing cover and pull off the belt.

Anyway, you're supposed to change that timing belt around 60-90k might as well do it while you're in there.