Signs My Car’s Thermostat Is Bad

The thermostat plays an important role in your vehicle’s cooling system. It keeps track of the engine’s temperature so it knows when to allow coolant into the engine to prevent it from overheating. On average, a thermostat will go bad after approximately 10 years of service. For most people, this means you have 100,000 miles or more on the odometer. If you have any of the following problems with your automobile, head straight to our auto repair shop so we can replace the thermostat.

If your vehicle is an older automobile, it would behoove you to inspect the thermostat to see if it is corroded. The thermostat is protected by a metal housing that can get rusty if coolant is seeping out of the thermostat valve. Unfortunately, this corrosion will eat through the housing and then the thermostat. It is important to replace a corroded thermostat right away.

Failure to do so could leave you with leaking coolant on the garage floor. You can tell that the fluid on the floor is coolant by comparing its color to the color of the fluid in the radiator overflow reservoir. You can also check the coolant level in the radiator when the engine is cold. Only do this when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is low in either the radiator or the reservoir, it’s safe to assume that the fluid spots or puddles on the garage floor are coolant from the cooling system.

You will definitely know that the thermostat is having problems if your temperature gauge needle moves up and down on the dashboard. This is a sign that the thermostat is confused as to the engine’s temperature and is releasing coolant at the wrong times. Unfortunately, this will continue until you replace the malfunctioning thermostat. We can do that at our shop.

Finally, your engine may also start to overheat all the time if the thermostat is bad. In severe cases, the thermostat can stop working and, as such, fail to send coolant to the engine. Consequently, your engine will overheat quickly and constantly. Do not drive your vehicle when your engine is overheating. You could cause additional engine damage.

Give us a call to schedule an appointment for your automobile if you are having any of the problems discussed in this blog post. We will replace the thermostat if it needs it.