m73m95

Redneck Thermostat

stolarzj

Do you figure I'm safe to put the hose back on and fill it back up to see if it's flowing properly now? Really want to find out if the water pump is good before putting a t-stat in.

Tom M'Guinn

When the thermostat is closed, there is a little port in the throat of the pump that allows coolant to recirculate within the pump -- i.e., an internal bypass so that it is not trying to pump coolant into a sealed off area. When the thermostat opens up, the plunger slides back to let the coolant flow to the motor, and at the same time, the other end of the plunger closes off the internal bypass. Because of this, running without a thermostat does not work as well as people might think -- because some portion of the coolant is going through the bypass port and some through the engine. For this reason, sometimes, people who want to run without a thermostat try to block off the bypass port -- some people have welded in plugs, used press fit plugs, etc. In your case, it looks like someone may have tried blocking it with a washer. When it flipped sideways, it probably helped to duct most/more coolant to the bypass port and less to the motor, hence the overheating. That'd be my guess anyway. Solution -- put in a new t-stat, a new factory seal in the bypass port, and remove the washer.

stolarzj

The radiator was completly cold so it wasn't getting any fluid. That's why I want to put the hose back on without the t-stat to verify the pump is now working. If it's not working, the dealer is going to get a call. I also need to order up all the parts and wait for them to come in.

Lemming

Order parts, do you mean the thermostat? If so, go to autozone and pay 10 bucks.

stolarzj

The t-stat, circlip and gasket. Though I do see a blue rubber ring in there, so I'm assuming that's the gasket. The t-stat I'm sure I can source locally, but the rest I doubt.

Lemming

You can get it all there, they list the t-stat and gasket on their website. A circlip is a circlip, just measure the diameter that you need.

stolarzj

I'd be guessing at the circlip since I don't have one. I'll dig around in PET, maybe they list the size in there. Also need to figure out if it has a turbo pump on it, since that needs a shim.

Tom M'Guinn

call 944online.com -- they can have everything on your doorstep tomorrow morning.

krystar

also, i seem to remember that there are two kinds of circlips. different thicknesses i think?

stolarzj

Looking thru the different years in PET, I only see one a 55x2 ring.

CurtP

Kind of, but not in the way you're thinking. Using a restrictor slows the water through the radiator so it has time to transfer heat.

A thermostat restricts flow too, even when open.

Legoland951

That is not anything from any part of a factory 944 and definitely not any part of a thermostat. If a dealer worked on your car, the mechanic should be fired. Any idiot trying a restrictor would have used the factory snap ring to keep it in place. It looks like sabotage to me.

stolarzj

I managed to source all the parts, put it back together and fired it up. It will go to the top mark on the temp gauge and stem will be pouring out of the vent, but the upper and lower hoses are not getting hot, doesn't even feel like there is coolant in the top one.

The car is my friends, he bought it a couple weeks ago for his wife. I've been working on the wornout suspension for him.

black944 turbo

Is there any milkshake in the oil or aos? This is crazy, I have never seen anyone try that before.