A thermostat of a car is responsible for controlling the flow of coolant in the engine. It also allows the engine to maintain a car’s temperature no matter the weather. If this simple device goes bad, you might face a serious problem with your car’s performance. It can eventually lead to severe engine damage as well.
Thermostat failure can happen for many reasons, and there are several ways to identify a problem. Today, we will discuss the five most common bad car thermostat symptoms that indicate it’s time for a repair or replacement.
Five Bad Car Thermostat Symptoms
1- Overheating
Vehicle overheating is one of the major bad car thermostat symptoms that can cause fatal consequences. When the temperature of the engine reaches its normal operating temperature, the thermostat allows the engine to control the heat.
What happens when a thermostat gets too hot? If the car thermostat is bad, it won’t allow coolant from flowing into the engine, which ultimately causes the car to overheat. So when this happens one of the possible causes is a broken thermostat.
Can you drive a car with a bad thermostat? If you continue to drive a vehicle in this condition, it increases the chances of damaging the engine in the long run. This is why it is important to keep an eye on signs that the vehicle thermostat is not working to avoid any danger during a drive.
2- Heater Malfunction
Locking the thermostat in an open position is one of the reasons car heater not working. The coolant will constantly flow in the engine regardless of whether it is warm enough to need it. If you turn the car’s heater on and the thermostat is open, cool air will constantly come out from the HVAC even if you raise the heater temperature. In other words, instead of getting too hot all the time, the engine has a problem with being too cold.
3- Temperature Fluctuations
A faulty thermostat will result in strange temperature changes during engine operation. In this case, the thermostat will not get stuck in one position, but there will still be false readings causing control issues. The engine temperature will change unpredictably and the radiator coolant will not flow normally.
4- Poor Engine Performance
A defective thermostat will affect your car’s engine performance because the car’s engine runs ideally at a certain temperature? between 90°C to 104°C. While overheating of the thermostat can degrade performance, low engine temperature can also impair your car’s engine performance.
5- Rumbling Noises
One of the notable symptoms of a stuck open thermostat is that you start hearing rumbling noises from your vehicle. The noises may come from the vehicle’s engine, radiator, or both. The noise can be heard as a boiling sound, gurgling sound, or knocking sound. Therefore, when you start hearing such noises or experiencing the above bad car thermostat symptoms, you most probably have a bad thermostat engine.
Things to Consider
There are a few things that can help you if your car thermostat not working properly.
- It is important to check the thermostat regularly. Also, a little knowledge about a car can save the owner from big issues.
- Understand and check the temperature indicator of your vehicle.
- Check coolant frequently and don’t use water as a coolant.
The life of a car radiator thermostat is at least 10 years. However, proper maintenance can extend it more.
FAQs
Why does my car thermostat keep going bad?
There can be many reasons that cause a failing car thermostat, including a bad water pump, loose water pump belt, leakage in the cooling system, collapsed radiator hose, and the clogged and failed radiator.
When should I replace my thermostat?
It would be wise to replace the thermostat whenever you plan to replace the heating and cooling system of your car. Therefore, every time you change your car’s AC or heater, check the thermostat and change it if it is needed.
If your vehicle is showing bad car thermostat symptoms, then change it as soon as possible. You can find car thermostat radiators and other auto accessories & parts in the UAE at market competitive rates. Moreover, you can find a range of affordable used cars in the UAE. For more options, you can check the following options:
- Buy used cars in Dubai
- Used cars for sale in Abu Dhabi
- Used cars for sale in Sharjah
- Buy second-hand cars in Ajman
- Buy second-hand cars in Al Ain
- Used cars for sale in Fujairah
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top car blog to know more about maintenance tips and other auto-related updates.
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