It could be the temp sensor but if your heat isn't working all that great I would say you have a flow problem. What temp thermostat are they putting in ? Did they flush the system ?

 

I'm not sure what temp thermostat they used. I would have to call and ask them. He said he flushed the system when they replaced the water pump.

 

Should be a 195F Non-failsafe type thermostat (mopar or Stant).

Feel the hoses going to the heater core, are they both hot?

I'd also be wary of the temp sensor, has it been tested?

 

Should be a 195F Non-failsafe type thermostat (mopar or Stant). Feel the hoses going to the heater core, are they both hot? I'd also be wary of the temp sensor, has it been tested?

I haven't felt the hoses I will do that later today when I get out.

No I haven't had the sensor tested. How would I test it? Also I don't know where it is at either.

 

I had a 195 thermostat and thought my engine was running cool. I took a laser thermometer and put the red dot on the thermostat housing when the temp gauge was in the normal range and I got a reading of 195. At that point I stopped worrying about it. Another way to check is remove the thermostat and put it in water the temperature the thermostat is supposed to open at. If it opens its good. I used the laser thermometer because I didn't feel like taking the thermostat out.

 

I've dealt with this issue on my sister's Jeep Cherokee and an old K car.
Replaced thermostat, didn't fix the problem
So we drove around for 10 minutes, "warm up the engine", and carefully felt the radiator hose near the thermostat and confirmed it was opening up and working.
replaced the sensory and all was good.

if that didn't work, we were going to look into replacing the CPU, but glad it didn't get to that point.

 

Well for whatever reason t sounds like your thermostat isn't opening. There's nothing electric controlling how the thermostat opens so idk why it wouldn't. Does your cooling system hold pressure/ does it leak?

 

Well for whatever reason t sounds like your thermostat isn't opening.

You might want to give that concept a little more thought.

I'm not sure what temp thermostat they used.

In that case, you are missing a key piece of information when it comes to troubleshooting your problem.

 

This is where my engine temp stays around now. Been driving for about 30 min.

 

View attachment 2689889

This is where my engine temp stays around now. Been driving for about 30 min.

If there are two temp sensors, one reads the temp for the temp gauge while the other temp sensor is for the ECU's reference. I've had some vehicles share one sensor (VW Passats) and that's where you can run into an annoying issue...

If it were me, I'd proceed to take an infrared temp of the thermostat housing and compare the temp to the readings when you hook up an OBDII reader set on "monitor mode" or "live data".
If that checks out, the sensors are fine....But then, I'd personally take out the thermostat and do a hot water test over a cooking pot, and make sure it's opening at 195F and make sure it's opening evenly. I've had my fair share of some opening up crooked and or sticking!!! If it sticks, It will over cool the coolant.

Cheers,
-Mike

 

There is no sensor in the overflow tank. I have a feeling they put in the wrong thermostat

 

The one and only coolant temperature sensor is located on the thermostat (aka water outlet) housing.