Every since it has been cold out my car has been having a problem, no heat while on the highway. When I drive on the freeway I lose heat and the temp guage drops all the way to the cold mark. In city driving the car is fine, temp guage goes to the halfway mark and I get heat. I have taken my car to the mechanic three times and each time there was some air in the system, we fixed it and you can come pick it up. Well the mechanic called and said my car was ready, I then went and picked up my car. Right after I picked up my car I immediately took the car on the freeway to make sure the heat was working. After about three minutes on the freeway the temp again drops to cold and I lose my heat. Before I picked my car up the mechanic said his tech drove it on the highway and everything was fine. How come the mechanic cannot find this problem?? Am I expecting too much?? Is this normal for a 96 Sunfire with a 2.2L engine?? I took it right back there and said I want heat at freeway speeds. Have I made a mistake getting this Sunfire?? By the way this car has a new waterpump and AC Delco thermostat. I have been told on this forum to put cardboard in front of the radiator but I feel that is just a band-aid and would rather solve the problem entirely. Thanks.
Check your thermostat.
if there was air in the system it would overheat.
it sounds to me like your thermostat is doing NOTHING to keep it warm.
ohh, and you're not asking too much.
They just didn't fix your car
it could be ur heater core
relized that i can never win.sometimes i feel like i have faild inside.wher do i begin.my mind is laughing at me.
The coolant should circulate around the engine until it reaches thermostat temperature
then the thermostat opens and coolant circulates through the rad --the temperature reduces and should stay around 195 deg F (Or thermostat temp)
I don't think it is your heater core because the heater works OK around town.
Around town there is not much cooling effect from the rad---this is where the electrical cooling fan would normally come on with stop/start driving in hot weather.
On the freeway the thermostat should be closing to keep the coolant temp at 195 ish
Is the coolant reservoir topped off ?
Does it stay at the same level after it has been driven?
Do you know if it has been bled and filled correctly?
I would suspect there is still air in the system somewhere and when the thermostat opens on the freeway the air gets into the heater core and you have no heat
Just my thoughts
Alont
when the thermostat opens on the freeway, it most never close because he also said that the temparature goes all the way to cool 100F on the freeway.
if the thermostat stays open, the car never gets hot, specially on the high way.
and if the temperature out side is below 40F degrees, going 70MPH on the freeway the car would never get hot. and if the temperature outside is below freezing its even worst.
He's car runs COLD and also, he's not getting any heat.
He's car only gets hot in traffic, and that's when he can feel some heat from the AC vents. that's the only way he can get some heat.
but when he goes back on the highway, the temperature drops to cold, and he can not feel anymore heat from the AC vents. Why? because the car gets too cold running at highway speeds.
If I have to put money on it, I say thermostat
but I can't win for loosing so its probably something else
maybe it is air in the system.
I hope he comes back and tell us what was really wrong with his car.
I think thermostat and I want to know if I'm right or wrong.
All of that stuff would make the engine get hot it seems like though. Change your thermostat, if that doesn't work i'd say its your heater core.
It's going to be your thermostat. My car had the same exact problem, and I just changed it again, today. Since you have the 2.2, it's on the left hand side of the motor, to the right of the water pump. There's 2 8mm bolts holding the housing on and the stat comes out. Get a Stant or AC Delco replacement, the Autozone thermostat can lick my bum. Twice!!
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Maybe they installed it backward? Isnt the 2.2OHV Reverse flow like the 2.4, and my Sunbird's 2.0?
Well, Mr Sunfire said
"By the way this car has a new waterpump and AC Delco thermostat." so I tried to think of something else
But, maybe Ender Wiggins right, it's in backwards.
I agree, would be nice to know what it was, anyhow.
Alont
It was the thermostat, the brand new AC Delco I had installed was defective. Stayed open all the time, kept the engine too cold. It would have been nice if the mechanic would have found this out the other two times I took my car in for no heat. Now I have heat......it is nice. Temp guage stays right near the middle at all times!!!
So Robby 002 you win your money
You said:-
If I have to put money on it, I say thermostat
but I can't win for loosing so its probably something else
maybe it is air in the system.
I hope he comes back and tell us what was really wrong with his car.
I think thermostat and I want to know if I'm right or wrong.
Thanks and congrats, Mr Sunfire, for telling us all what the problem was------------ instead of disappearing into the Sunset as many seem to do
Alont
Those who asked about the stat going in backwards: It won't fit the other way.
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Sponsored by:
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YES!!! I WON! I WON! I REALLY REALLY WON!
lol
J/K
on the 2.4, the thermostat can be installed backwards and you won't know it until you find your car overheating in traffic. so becaureful.
When it comes to thermostat just remember one thing.
"The Spring,
ALWAYS faces the MOTOR." Always!
When the spring gets hot, that's what makes the thermostat open up and only the heat from the motor can do it quicker.
