[Mk2 Turbo] Running cold ..... thermostat?

[djmcfish]

Hi guys

I have a rev 3 turbo and all of a sudden it’s started running cold.

The water temp used to sit at about 50% but now, if I’m driving at over 30 it settles down to practically nothing. It warms up normal(ish) in traffic but cools right down again very quickly when I get going. It then keeps it’s rev’s up at idle like when the car is first started and the “choke” kicks in.

To me it sounds like the thermostat has stuck open. I assume (well hope) it’s not doing to much harm as the oil should still warm up, all be it a little slowly.

Any ideas guys and/or has anyone changed one. Changed them on various hatchbacks, but haven’t really ever worked on the MR2. Not even sure where to start looking for it (well, apart from attached to the engine somewhere!)

Cheers

[Fonzy]

yep stat stuck open, two nuts and the housing is off, £17 replacement in, two nuts and your away.

dont forget to top up the coolant and bleed


http://www.mr2-tech.com/bgb/mechanical/ ... system.htm

this might help a little

can find more at www.mr2-tech.com

Fonzy

[djmcfish]

Cheers Fonzy

Looks easy and that's a usefull website!

Just one question ...... where is it. left, right, under the car etc etc. The diagram is bit zoomed in, can't find a reference point.

Thanks

[Fonzy]

stand on the drivers side of the engine compartment and look down towards back of the engine thats closest to the firewall of the cabin/engine bay on that side you will see the housing right there.

[djmcfish]

Thanks again

So far only changed oil and air filters and the brake pads and ..... if the stat really is that simple ..... the MR2 is easier to look after than my old Mondeo Gotta love the Jap's.

Sod that cam belt though gald it's been done already

[3S Service Centre]

no worries!

Yep timing belt is a biatch, i am bearing the scars on a weekly basis, mainly cut knuckles on the cam pulleys

[raptor95GTS]

djmcfish - use a really good quality 6 sided socket to remove the thermostat bolts otherwise you'll strip the nuts (and that aint good )

[static]

Hi guys - got the same problem but a little confused on the details here. The manual says to drain the coolant, but Fonzy's suggesting that you only need to top up and bleed afterwards?

I'm assuming this means that the stat is not so low down as to spill all the coolant out once you've changed it.

One more quick Q - best to buy the replacement from Toyota, or somewhere else?

[raptor95GTS]

if the coolant has been changed recently then no point in draining the whole lot. Just have some fresh stuff to top up what you spill.

I bought the thermostat from toyota as there have been reported problems with the cheaper pattern replacements.

[Frustrated Pilot]

lol.. you could go the whole hog and get the TRD one

[static]

Cheers all!