Engine not heating up

[oobadooba]

I noticed tonight that my engine doesn't heat up properly, in fact not at all. The temperature gauge doesn't hardly move off the bottom apart from when the car is sat ticking over for a few minutes. When it is left to idle for a few minutes the temperature rises to about half way. I have ordered a new engine coolant temp sensor hoping this will do the trick. If not I'm thinking thermostat, failing that I'll have to get it plugged in to find any faults. Any ideas? Thanks everyone.

 

[DannyR]

Temp sensor should cure it.

Let it sit and idle for 20 minutes and it should be at half..

 

[Typhoon]

As above, temp sensor should cure it mate. Let us know how you get on.

 

[oobadooba]

Cheers for your help, hopefully it will be here tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes, hopefully should fix it.

 

[Gandi69]

Sounds like the classic stuck open thermostat symptoms to me

 

[DannyR]

Sounds like the classic stuck open thermostat symptoms to me

Not if he sits there for 20 minutes and it warms up.

 

[Gandi69]

if its stationary with no air through the rad it'd probably warm up, if it drops when driving. Worth changing the stat anyway they dont last forever

 

[172_Tom]

Sounds like the classic stuck open thermostat symptoms to me

Agreed. I've had two other cars (non-clio) with thermostats stuck open and my symptoms were just as the OP describes.

 

[oobadooba]

Thanks for your help. I fitted my new sensor this evening and no better. Took it for a 10 mile drive, didn't heat up at all. Get home and let it idle for 2 minutes and temperature gauge starts increasing. Take it for another drive and it's starts dropping before I get to the end of the road. Seems to me now that it could be the stat stuck open. If the water is constantly pumping through the rad and cooling down the engine doesn't get a chance to warm up. I presume the gauge works off the sensor that I replaced? I'll get a new stat and see how I get on. Cheers.

 

[ADS_V6]

defo the stat i just had the opposite cts was problem g luck

 

[oobadooba]

Stat came in post today, fitted it and all is well. Must have been opening too early. Temp gauge sits bang on in the middle now. Cheers for your help chaps.