thermostat question

[countryman]

i just installed a 195 degree thermostat and now my temp guage is saying i am running between 200 and somewhere past 240 ( it gose past the 240 make and they are the last numbers) i made sure there was antifreeze and water in the rad and no air bubbles. i do beleve my guage is wrong because i can remove my rad cap and it is cold along with my hoses.

[Paul E]

I'm willing to bet your water pump is an issue.

What year is your TJ?

The default temp gauge is really what your TJ needs to run efficiently. You also may have installed the thermostat backwards. It is easy to do wrong if you don't pay attention. Don't ask how I know. :)

When I had issues, I:

1. Removed pump.
2. Removed thermostat and housing.
3. Installed a flush kit and did a reverse flush to get the crud out of the heater core.
4. Installed new pump, new thermostat ($32.00 for pump at Adv Auto).
5. Installed 50/50 mix of coolant and DISTILLED water.
6. Let the engine run up to operating temps with radiator cap off to help bubbles escape system.

My thermo has not been over the midway point since doing this, and that includes running all day on the trails and then doing highway driving home.

[Jonbo]

Countyman, as Paul E has stated, check to make sure you did not put it in backwards. While you have it out, put it in a pot of water and heat it up. As you heat the water the thermostat should open at the marked temp. If it does not it is defective. -Jon

[countryman]

I know my thermostat works because i put it in the pot of hot water and it worked. i also had the thermostat in wrong but it is right now. it is still messing up. i just put in a new sensor to see if that might do anything next will be the flush and pump if it is still broke. thanks for the help.

the ci a 79 with the 258

[gate53]

Just take the thermostat out and see how it does without it that will either eliminate it as the problem or tell you to look elsewhere if it's still happening. Then time for the flush and look at the water pump

[countryman]

it didnt have a thermostat in it and now its cold and i wanted heat in the jeep so i put one in it and now this happened. Well first was valve seals and thats a whole nether problem i havent got fixed yet either.

[gate53]

When it's running can you see the water moving in the radiator? I think that for the cost 0f $50 or 60 I would try what Paul did. If the guy was running without a thermostat I doubt he was careful what he filled it with and there's more than likely gunk in the system.

[countryman]

yes i can after the theromostat opens

[gate53]

yes i can after the theromostat opens

Must be the guage.

[gate53]

Does the HOT idiot light come on or is it just the guage?

[countryman]

its just a guage. and now that i changed the sensor it runs at about 220 or so with a 195 thermostat in it. so i think i might of fixed it. now i gotta get it to stop smoking. thanks for all the help

[gate53]

Good luck with that I can't even get me to stop smoking.

[countryman]

mine stops for a week or so then starts again so i take it apart and push the NEW valve seals down and the visious cycle starts again and again and well you know hahaha