Bad thermostat symptoms?

[Zundfolge1342]

My 76 appears to be running a little cool. It warms up normally but when the gauge starts to get out of the blue it stops there and never shows it getting any higher (I swaped the gauge incase it was a bad gauge, but didn't improve the reading), so my Question is;

Is this a symptom of a stuck thermostat? If no what else could it be? Any thoughts?

Thanks!

-Greg

[SteveH]

Sounds like the thermostat.

[Mike Self]

thermometer just to make sure it isn't the temp gauge sender unit (which rarely goes bad), the wiring/terminal or the sender unit's ground. The sender is brass and it screws into an aluminum housing, so corrosion can form. But chances are it is the 'stat--they are not the most reliable part of a 2002...

cheers

mike

[Timmer]

Greg,

Feel the bottom/lower hoses, ( with the motor off of course ) if they are cool at engine operating temperature it's most likely the thermostat, also, place the thermostat in a pot of water, let the water heat up and see if the thermostat is opening.

Tim

'69 2000

[Zundfolge1342]

Ok, I'll try those things to see if I can't narrow it down a bit. What temp triggers the thermostat normally?

Thanky

-Greg

[Timmer]

Anywhere from 71c ( 160 fahrenheit ) to 80c ( 176 f ), depends on which thermostat you're using, anywhere in that range.

Tim

'69 2000

[Timmer]

I think I misinformed you Greg; should be either 71 degrees faherenheit, 75 degrees f or 80 degrees f, depending again on which thermostat you have, the number is etched on the thermostat., that number is the temperature which the thermostat opens.

Tim

'69 2000