Stuck thermostat or bad thermometer?

[Paydirtdog]

Just curious....is your heater putting out heat? Does it seem to warm up in the normal amount of time? I am having a similar problem with my gauge but it is an intermittent thing.

[jeremym]

Originally Posted by Paydirtdog

Just curious....is your heater putting out heat? Does it seem to warm up in the normal amount of time? I am having a similar problem with my gauge but it is an intermittent thing.

See, my work commute is 5 miles, one way. Given that it's been around freezing temps recently, I've just put the X5 not warming up to normal operating temp because I just didn't give it enough time. So in turn, my heat would never be HOT. Just luke warm. So, honestly, I can't tell you if this is a recent issue or something that's been going on for a month or two.

Going to bite the bullet and drop it at any stealer that has the time to do it today.

[jeremym]

Just went and picked it up. For the entire 45 minute highway run, it was just above the blue. We get into town which is total of about 2 miles from the highway to parking garage and it started warming up. I was kind of hitting the manhole covers to purposely give it a few jolts to see if it would spring back to life. We get to the spot in the garage and the needle is at 12 o clock. I figured, maybe it's just stuck shut now. I drove around the garage in 1st gear for about 3 minutes and the needle never moved. I was at about 2-3k RPM the entire time.

Can I say the thermo is now unstuck? Not sure. Maybe it's just temporary. I think maybe the reason it got stuck in the first place is since my coolant was low for a few weeks, it may have gunked up. Now that there is fluid hitting it, since I added the water yesterday, it may have freed up.

Any insight on this?

[RickM5X3]

Originally Posted by jeremym

Just went and picked it up. For the entire 45 minute highway run, it was just above the blue. We get into town which is total of about 2 miles from the highway to parking garage and it started warming up. I was kind of hitting the manhole covers to purposely give it a few jolts to see if it would spring back to life. We get to the spot in the garage and the needle is at 12 o clock. I figured, maybe it's just stuck shut now. I drove around the garage in 1st gear for about 3 minutes and the needle never moved. I was at about 2-3k RPM the entire time.

Can I say the thermo is now unstuck? Not sure. Maybe it's just temporary. I think maybe the reason it got stuck in the first place is since my coolant was low for a few weeks, it may have gunked up. Now that there is fluid hitting it, since I added the water yesterday, it may have freed up.

Any insight on this?

The best way to monitor your coolant temp is through the obc test modes (test 7) and watch the numbers. It should run up to about 78c then the thermostat opens. Shouldn't take more than several minutes, even in cold outside temps. My thermostat is on its way out and is sometimes sticking open and car stays at 66c rather than the quick run to 78c. But sometimes it functions perfectly. Sounds like you are experiencing similar behavior. Peak code confirms all this. Wish I could just find a DIY thread somewhere for a N62 thermostat replacement!!