Hey Robert would these symptoms suggest a bad thermostat?

1. After a hour drive my temp still showed 160~

2. I felt the heater inlet/outlet (I did NOT have the heater on) and both of them were fairly cool to the touch.

3. Not sure what it is called but the manifold that the hoses all connect to (the inlet/outlet) and the radiator looks like there is a wire that goes to it, is this the temp gauge in there? The hose off the block to this didn't feel that hot, but warmer than inlet/out.

 

Bumping this, as I am really thinking about if it my thermostat is stuck open. If that was the case, would I have these really low run temps as well as no heat?

 

Yes and maybe.

Just replace the thermostat - it's so easy to do and worth knowing it's good.

 

Probably is the thermostat. I fortunately got one from Napa that works. It does take a little longer to warm up and runs slightly under 200-210 though. Next one I do will be with a Mopar just for piece of mind.

The piece you refer to is the water neck. It's the piece you have to remove to get the thermostat out. The hoses off that should be almost too hot to touch. And it may be a good idea to flush the heater core. I flushed everything but and now a year and a half later I finally flushed the heater core. And finally I have great heat.

 

The sensor that plugs into that is the coolant temperature sensor (used for engine management).

 

I am thinking the same thing as others. Switch that thermostat out. Both my Jeeps have a stant 195° thermostat and they both run between 200-205° consistently.

 

Not the piece that houses the thermostat. Basically the manifold that is near the firewall - the one that the heater core inlet/outlet plug into and the hoses off the block. It looks like some sensor is in there, does this thing go bad - how would I know?

 

 

Picture would be helpful. All sensors have the possibility of going bad. Hot and cold temps, moisture, vibration...etc. etc.

 

I think he means the heater control valve. Did the 96 still have it? If so then that is directly related to the cabin heat. It opens and closes to allow coolant to flow through the heater core. It's best to remove that and connect hoses directly to the heater core. Get a set if hoses for a 97-01 or use barbed connectors on the hoses that are there. The control valve will not affect operating temp of the engine. So best to verify your gauge is correct with a non contact infrared thermometer as others have already suggested. If the gauge is correct then the thermostat is likely the culprit.

 

Oh. If you do remove the control valve then you will also need to plug the vacuum hose that's connected to it. The valve is also replaceable but it's really not necessary or a good idea.

 

96 has the HCV.

x2 on ditching the valve.

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Yeah its the HVC now that I'm looking at pictures. Ok so what is my battle plan here - replace the thermostat or replace the HVC? Does the HVC just get in the way but is likely NOT the culprit? Remember my jeep is running like 140~

 

Also where do I buy a Mopar? I see Stants a lot, how are those?

 

Got my MOPAR thermostat at the dealer.

Eliminate the HCV. Mopar eliminated them in '97 anyways. With out it coolant will continuously flow through the heater core keeping it flushed out.