engine not getting hot enough on Shadow

[mnwalleye]

I have a 1989 Dodge Shadow that has been running colder then normal, needle only moves up maybe 1/4 of way up the gauge. In the summer it is consistantly at the 1/2 way mark. Now I changed the themostat, checked the coolant level which is just fine. I did have the head gasket done maybe 3 or 4 years ago and changed the radiator at the same time. It is not eating coolant which I'm aware of.

A couple odd things I've noticed, when it's at idle, cold air blows out of the heater but when you shut it off for a few seconds and restart it, warm air comes out for about 10 seconds. Almost seems like an air pocket in the system. It also seems to be under pressure right from the start before the thermostat has even warmed up, for instance I carefully remove the new radiator cap when the cars been running only for a few minutes and the pressure forces coolant into the overflow tank, hmmm. I plan on having the system flushed out since it's been a couple years and I'm suspecting it could be a partial blockage in the heater core or something. Any other ideas?

Best thing about small cars, when they do break down, their small enough to push to the repair shop.

Thanks.

MnWalleye

[ironman502]

My '87 Lancer does the same thing as your car with the temp guage- much colder in winter than in summer. I know my car has a bad heater core, because it blows hot air all year round no matter what, even with the A/C on. I'm not worried about it though because it usually blows hot in the winter. (I live in Duluth, so a car with a good heater is absoutely indispensable!) Have you tried putting a slab of cardboard in front of the radiator? That might allow the engine to run a little hotter.

[JP_GD2004]

You might want to check your temperature sensor.

If the car never gives you sufficient heat, I would try the flush as you mentioned and consider it could be the heater core.

[DodgeDaytonaV6]

Try checking the coolant temp sensor. Also, make sure the thermostat is the correct temperature. If you can, get a higher temp thermostat.

[gen2tegls]

does ur engine ever strat off cold for a while then go really hot

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by gen2tegls

does ur engine ever strat off cold for a while then go really hot

If you've replaced the thermostat, with the correct one and you still have the problem, I would suspect the heater core. I don’t suspect the temp sensor because you're actually getting cold air. It isn't like the temp is reading incorrectly and you're getting hot air all the time. Also, I think you're on the right track; a flush would be a good idea.

[mnwalleye]

Originally Posted by gen2tegls

does ur engine ever strat off cold for a while then go really hot

Yes it did earlier, it would be really cold then get hot to the point where I was ready to shut it down and let it cool. About 3/4 of the way up the temp gauge. Funny because it got flooded and didn't start after a couple of the coldest days. I smelled the dipstick to see if I could smell any gas but I couldn't. That's when the series of problems really began. It doesn't seem to get too hot now after changing the oil and I guess I should've done it earlier but with 150,000, I was kind of hoping it would die so I could convince my wife we should buy a newer car.

Thank you!

Happyness is a car you don't have to wash anymore,

Mnwalleye

[gen2tegls]

my finds shadow had troubles cooling and he warped the head so be carful cause his was startign off cold and just shooting hot drain your radiotor if u cant remember the last time you did it