Cooling system runs cool and not much heat in winter.

[rich]

Is it normal on these Festivas that the engine temperature runs on the cool side in the winter. Mine barely comes off the C and the heater temp is just warm. Its not the thermostat. If I block most of the radiator I can get the temp up to normal but on a warm day, it will start to run too hot. The old volvo PV544's had a shade in front of the radiator that you could raise and lower from inside the car with a chain. because it had the same issue. I'm in New Mexico so the temperature swings are up to 40 degrees in one day.

[yousufwalton]

Mine is doing the same thing and I think it's making my car use more gas since its saying it's cold

[hotfordcat]

How do you know it's not the T-Stat??

[GenevaDirt]

Depending on the thermostat...the Festy tends to run on the cooler side anyway. With a completely NORMAL functioning system and the PROPER thermostat....they work fine. If not they can keep you chilly while driving. I have as I am sure others have, taken a piece of cardboard and slip it in between the grill and the radiator, blocking the air flow and helping keep the temp up in the system. Right or wrong...it helps. I run with a piece as big as the radiator...others may adjust the size to let more air flow in....depending on how cool it is running. That being said....your system may need to be flushed due to a partially plugged heater core....poor circulation through the radiator...or both. Also the water pump may not be moving the proper amount of fluids. Also...you may have a partially blocked heater core from the inside....filled with bedding from furry little tag alongs over the years.

[gauge_half_inch]

I have had the same issue with a couple of mine. The proper thermostat helps when driving intown. But unless you never get on the highway (55+). Easy check on the heater core, let it idle and get up to temp with the heat off, kick it on high. If its mediocre, then get to flushing. If its nice and hot for a min, try some cardboard.

[rich]

Low Coolant Temperature

I have a 91 Festiva which runs on the cool side, and even cooler in the winter. I dont have a heater, I have a warmer. The needle barely comes off the C. In the summer it will get to mid level if I'm in stop and go traffic. If I cover most of the radiator in the winter the temperature will get to normal but if it warms up outside midday, then it gets too hot. It is not the thermostat. Plus I just replaced the radiator from the original manual transmission type to the thicker AT type so that wont help. Is this common to these vehicles? I had a 59 Volvo PV544 that was known for the same issue and they came from the factory with a front radiator shade that can be raised or lowered from inside with a chain.

[FestYboy]

and thank you for starting another thread on the same subject.

get yourself a 2 stage t-stat, flush the core and enjoy your new found heat.

[KingFish]

Check out the sticky at the top of repair forum. A sticky is a thread at the very top of the page that has a little splat icon next to it.

[KingFish]

Oopps, I was too slow.

[Movin]

FestYboy runs on race fuel and he is hot all the time!!

[FestYboy]

i'm what you call and "exotic" fuel, lol.

[Chobobulous]

Use less rad fluid:p

[Movin]

Add more oxygen and hang on !!

[sc72]

Good morning Rich, give this a try.
Click repair help forum,
click sticky #1,
go to page 12,
look for post #117
This post was created by FB71, read and follow the instructions. Good luck

[bravekozak]

O.K. I found the solution to the poor heat problem!