1993 saturn sl1 temp gauge

[blkmrideon22s]

i have a 1993 saturn sl1 and for the past couple of weeks my car temp gauge has been reading cold even on a two hour drives my car never get's warm. so i replace the thermostatand the temperature switch but when my friend replace the temperature switch he didn't tighten all they way down becuase the bolt was starting to round off. so when i crank the car up and let it idie or try to drive the car it runs hot quick. i check the water pump and it's fine. so could it be that my head gasket is blown or what?

[emailer33]

may wanna check your coolant level. and describe what you mean by running hot. does it get to the line before teh H before it starts to settle down? or does it actually get to the red H line?

[blkmrideon22s]

my coolant level fine. my temperature gauge gets just a little over the red line but i turn it off before it get to the h mark. could it be the temp gauge is not reading right because of the temperature switch is not all they way in?

[alleninpa]

Feel the radiator, is it hot? If the radiator is not hot, then either the water pump doesn't work, the thermostat is bad, or there is lots of air trapped in the system.

Check the thermostat by placing it in boiling water. It should fully open. Make sure it's not put in backwards, also.

The temp sensor should still read the engine temperature, even if it is out a thread or 2.

[Razorbak]

Originally Posted by alleninpa

Make sure it's not put in backwards, also.

I don't think you can mount a Saturn thermostat upside down in it's housing and have it remain in place. JMHO. Never actually tried it, but I think the length of the spring and the location and the mounting tabs would prevent it from being mounted upside down.