Kia Pride running too cold, thermostat?

[UKpride]

Hi guys,

Suddenly got cold here in the UK, minus figures during the day etc.

My Pride struggles to warm up on my 5 mile drive to work.

The Temp guage only just moves above cold, no heat from the heater etc.

Is my thermostat busted? Where is it? Is it easy to change?

Or do I need to shield my radiator with some cardboard?

Any help or pictures appreciated.

Thanks

[packrat427]

Covering up the radiator will help it heat up , just don't totally seal it off .
Make round holes in it in random area's , so it will get some air .
The piece of cardboard just needs to be big enough to cover it .

Make sure you keep a eye on your temp gauge after doing this !!

You could also have a stuck thermostat, T-stat is on the drivers side of the head , right where the upper radiator hose attaches in that housing .

[freshtiva]

Thats normal that is wouldnt heat up on a five miles trip with temps below zero. There are only about five quarts of coolant for the heater to use.

see this thread

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8930

[Dave G]

It's probably the thermostat. If cardboard on the radiator fixes it, then it's the thermostat for sure!

[UKpride]

Thanks Guys,

I'll get some cardboard out and cable tie it on.

[neanderpaul]

I've put 2 thermostats in my 6th festiva. My nephew is driving it now. It won't warm up past the very bottom of the operating range even in the summer. the heat still works though. I dunno?

[htchbck]

sometimes the needle messes up on the temp gauge. If the heat is working, the car is heating up. My blue car did that for a while, I was heating normally, but the gauge barely came up at all. I just took out the gauge and took it apart when I was building my cluster, when I put it back together, it worked fine.

[UKpride]

Covered most of the radiator with a sheet of cardboard, and now the cars warms up great, the temp needle gets to the middle of the guage easily. So I probably have got a dodgy thermostat then...

[miami man]

if the moter is the same as the 1.3 remember the small hole on the theromostat should be at the 12:00 position. correct everyone?