'86 SE has been running cold, like not getting above 130. Possible stuck thermostat, possible temp gauge sending unit....
Ordered a cheap 195' thermostat just to test, and ordered a new sending unit from Fiero Store.
Got the thermostat today and went to change it out, and guess what.....there was no thermostat in the car to change!! So whoever had it before me (Just got it 2 months ago) had been running it with an open loop.
So I put the thermostat in, and my son and I go for a ride around the block. And it goes into red, but doesn't hit 260. I turn the heater and fan on, and it comes back down to just under 220. We keep driving and it goes back up again into red. No dash light, but up into red on the temp gauge. Turn the heater and fan on again and it drops back down again. 3 times in about a mile and a half. So we park it, and I let it idle to see if it'll come out of red or top out in the driveway (hey, at least I'm at home) and it does the same thing. Up into or just barely into the red and then back to 220.
It does this three or four times before I park it for the night.
So, what is the "correct" thermostat to get. I'm thinking the $7 from O'riely wasn't the best answer, but I had only bought it to help rule out what the problem was.
And how do I test the "hey stupid it's overheating" light to make sure that it's functional? I don't see it at all when I start the car and the other lights come on and I've changed all the dash light bulbs already.
And other suggestions and insight are welcome. I'm new to all of this and don't have a good grasp of electrical testing and whatnot. Use of small words and pictures are greatly appreciated.
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I dated a girl in high school purely because she had a fiero.
