Satisfied Customers: 919. This device acts as your temp sensor. Optional Information: 2004 Nissan mixima 3.5. The thermostat plays a balancing role in keeping the engine at the optimum temperature. At the same time it keeps your car warm it also keeps the engine cool. ­­The thermostat's main job is to allow the engine to heat up quickly, and then to keep the engine at a constant temperature. Any liquid-cooled car engine has a small device called the thermostat that sits between the engine and the radiator. A thermostat is a small device that is positioned in between the car engine and radiator. Answered in 20 minutes by: 2/4/2006. When it fails, your engine will not operate properly, which could lead to more expensive engine work down the road. As one of the primary devices in charge of controlling the temp inside the engine, if the thermostat is not working, the gauge will end up outside the range it should be. The system works "on the machine". A car’s thermostat regulates the flow of coolant through the engine and is an essential part in the operation of your vehicle. It then makes a few more stops along its way through the cooling system and ends up back in the engine. After 13+ years hustling in the exciting world of car sales, he took off to travel the world with his dog Teemo. Thankfully, checking a thermostat is pretty straight-forward. How Thermostats Work. There’s no way you could continue for long. It is he who performs the work of reading and processing information about the … When the valve does not allow fluid to flow out of the engine, it can cause damage to the surrounding hoses, causing them to leak. A thermostat is a small device that is positioned in between the car engine and radiator. The thermostat in most cars is about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. It is a fire hazard that can lead to irremediable damage to the car engine. How does the engine’s thermostat work? Anything that disrupts this balance of opening and closing of the thermostat valves can result in symptoms that indicate the need for proper servicing, replacement, or maintenance of the thermostat. If the thermostat is not functioning correctly, the engine has no way to cool itself down. The thermostat is a mainly a traditional stat set to a high temperature and when the car demands more power the ECU switches on the electric feed to the … If the thermostat is not opening/closing as it should, the coolant flowing out of the engine can’t be regulated. One of the main components in charge of regulating how hot or cold it gets is the thermostat. If you notice it going from hot to cold (or vice-versa) frequently, it may be due to a faulty thermostat. When you first start the car it should be closed, essentially blocking the water/coolant from traversing the radiator thus allowing the engine to reach its optimum temperature as quickly as possible. Once … First, start the engine and let it idle for a minute or two. The thermostat does two things - it closes or it opens - and that’s what determines how the coolant behaves. Once it leaves the engine, it goes to the radiator, where that excess heat is removed. Ratings of Temperature Okay, so let me put it in this way that a car thermostat operates by answering to the modifications in the temperature to the engine coolant. Most automobile mechanics will tell you it is not a good idea to … Any liquid-cooled car engine has a small device called the thermostat that sits between the engine and the radiator . An engine cooling system thermostat is designed to stop the flow of coolant in the cooling system when the engine is cold, this is done to help the engine warm up to optimum operating temperature which improves efficiency and emissions output. While describing himself in the third person is not his forte, writing about any and all things automotive – is. As the engine is started, it takes a few minutes to warm up, and during that time, the coolant is cold. A faulty or broken thermostat is the most common cause of your car’s failing heat. Car engines need an optimal temperature range, which is 194°F or 90°C, to function effectively. If it is not heated, the thermostat stays closed, allowing the coolant to continue circulating inside the block. The primary valve of the thermostat remains closed, but the by-pass valve is opened, keeping the coolant circulating in the engine. One of these vital elements is a thermostat, which enables the car engine to work at an optimum temperature by regulating the flow of coolant. One of the more obvious signs that something inside your cooling system is malfunctioning is a drop in fuel economy. Most things get bigger when they heat up and smaller when they cool down (water is a notable exception: it expands when it heats up and when it freezes too).Mechanical thermostats use this idea (which is called thermal expansion) to switch an electric circuit on and and off.The two most common types use bimetallic strips and gas-filled … These signs can occur if: If you notice any of these symptoms, it means that your car needs thermostat repair. While each car makes, the model has its manufacturer specifications, all engines should work on temperature between 195 F and 220 F. if the engine’s temperature rises above 220, the driver is overheated, and it can be damaged very quickly. While your home’s thermostat is used to monitor the interior of your home, your car’s thermostat is used to regulate the temperature of the engine to help the engine stay cool. Category: Car. The Thermostat in Your Car: A cars thermostat is a simple device that is basically a thermometer that is attached to a switch that turns on your heater. Another temperature-related symptom is fluctuations in the gauge. We invite you to bring your vehicle into our auto repair shop today! What a Vehicle Thermostat Does. Size aside, the thermostat in your car has a vital job to perform. What Does Thermostat Do? Its job is to block the flow of coolant to the radiator until the engine has warmed up. It consists of a wax-filled cylinder, two valves-main and by-pass, and a spring. Car engines need an optimal temperature range, which is 194°F or 90°C, to function effectively. When it opens, the coolant is then able to circulate. How thermostats work. The other side of the equation is an engine that’s overheating, which can be a severe issue. A car thermostat is installed on a car engine and regulates the engine temperature by opening to allow coolant from the radiator to flow through the engine, cooling it down, then closing again to allow the engine to warm up to operating temperature. If it is cold, the thermostat stays closed, keeping it in the engine. It is equipped with an electronic control system, thanks to which a complete and unhindered cycle of cooling ICE. The microcontroller in a digital thermostat can measure the resistance and convert that number to an actual temperature reading. If it gets too hot, the thermostat opens, allowing it to flow to the radiator where it will cool down. "Usually located within a metal or plastic housing where the upper radiator hose connects to the engine, most of today’s thermostats utilize the "reverse poppet" design, which opens against the flow of the coolant. This happens when the thermostat gets stuck closed, not allowing hot coolant to cool down in the radiator. Digital thermostats use a simple device called a thermistor to measure temperature. Josh Barrett is a writer hailing from the great state of Alaska. Here's a walkthrough on how to replace a thermostat. While it may be small in size (fits in the palm of your hand), the job it performs is crucial for your engine to stay within a safe operating temperature. As the name suggests, it “compresses” the refrigerant so that it turns from a gaseous state into a liquid state. A car engine works much the same way, averaging between 195-220°F. The thermostat measures the temperature of coolant before it comes back to the radiator. The other possibility is that the valve is stuck closed. replace thermostatwhat temp thermostatis my thermostat badbad thermostat Once your car’s engine is all warmed up and the coolant temperature has reached somewhere around 185 degrees Fahrenheit, the thermostat opens up and allows coolant to flow through the radiator in order to start cooling the engine, and to keep it at a toasty 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Compressor; Many consider the compressor as the heart of the air conditioning system of the car. (www.coldstar.co.uk) Any liquid-cooled car engine has a small device called the thermostat that sits between the engine and the radiator. When coolant temperature rises to the engine's ideal, the thermostat valve opens to send coolant through the radiator in order to maintain that temperature. Problem is, engines aren’t efficient until they’re warm and the cabin heater offers no heat. However, not on all modern cars it is realized. If this symptom matches with any of the others on this list, it may be time to check the thermostat. It consists of a wax-filled cylinder, two valves-main and by-pass, and a spring. To put it in simple words, a car thermostat works by responding to the changes in the temperature of the engine coolant. How does the thermostat know when to open or close? Share this conversation. How To Fix And Start Your Car. A thermostat ensures that the car's cooling system is functioning efficiently and prevents the engine from getting too hot. The thermostat in most cars is about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. How Does it Work? Here’s The Fix, Does Your Car Make A Grinding Noise When Accelerating? Ask Your Own Car Question. Category: Car. A thermostat is a valve in the cooling system that closes when coolant temperatures are low, in order to recycle coolant through the motor and bring it up to the ideal temperature. The thermostat in most cars is about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. Engine overheats within moments of starting the car. Here’s The Fix, Why Won't My Car Start? Depending on how savvy you are under the hood of a car, you may be able to replace it yourself for between $50-$150. The fact is that for its functionality the machine must be equipped with an on-board computer. Similar to any water-cooled engines, the vehicle’s engine has to work within a specific temperature range. Michael, Auto Service Technician. The thermostat is basically a valve between the engine and the radiator. No worries, because in this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the automotive thermostat. Easy guide on how an automotive cooling system thermostat works, this information pertains to most vehicles. How does the thermostat work? This will also pave the way for providing you with the answer to the question, how does a car AC work? It features a unique type of wax that acts as an expanding agent. This is a resistor which allows electrical resistance changes with temperature. It does this by regulating the amount of water that goes through the radiator. The car thermostat is meant to keep your car warm and cool. As the engine gradually reaches optimal functioning temperature, the coolant starts to heat up. By this point, the engine shouldn’t be hot enough for coolant to be necessary, so it shouldn’t be flowing. Once the engine coolant is blistering adequately; the thermostat unsealed to permit the coolant to move to the radiator. In most cases, an overheating or no-heat condition in your vehicle is due to a faulty thermostat. How does a car thermostat work? When the heat reaches a specific temperature, the agent expands, which opens the valve. By letting the engine warm up as quickly as possible, the … This cycle repeats itself as you drive, keeping your engine at its optimal temperature for driving. 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