Engine not warming up....Need opinions.

[BlazerLT]

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.

[unbe]

I would try a new thermostat.

[BlazerLT]

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?

[vamc]

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

[ude_loose]

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..

[Cavalier2000]

thermy from napa works don't buy a cheap one