temp gauge question

[GPmanter]

Hey guys,

As all of you may or may not know I am new to the Grand Prix so I am uncertain if all is well or not so I thought I would ask away.

2008 Grand Prix:

I noticed the temp gauge needle will not go any higher than halfway between the 1/4 & 1/2 mark. The car seems to take longer to heat up compared to other cars I have had in the past & also noticed that unless I have the heat set at higher than 80 degrees it doesn't seem to get very hot in the car.

Didn't know if this is a sign of an issue or normal. I'm used to setting the heat to about 72 & being comfortable & when I have the heat set at the same setting the air feels cool coming out of the vents.

Thanks in advance!

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

how many miles???

It could be time for a coolant flush, heater core flush and new thermostat.

[GPmanter]

34100.00. I was thinking about what it is doing & the more I thought of it, it sounded like what a 91 Corolla I had did. Turned out that car had a bad t-stat gasket.

Wondering if it could be the same thing on here. How hard are they to change on the 3800?

[develand]

FWIW, my 08 runs right around the 1/2 mark to maybe one needle width higher.

[GPmanter]

FWIW, my 08 runs right around the 1/2 mark to maybe one needle width higher.

Hmmmm... It definitely sounds like I got an issue then. I'm thinking I'll go ahead & throw a thermostat at it to see what happens. Couldn't hurt any. Before I do that I'm gonna double check the coolant level just to make sure it's alright.

[GPmanter]

Went ahead & checked the coolant level when I got home & the overflow bottle was almost empty. Went ahead & filled it to the hot mark. We'll see how that does when I drive the car to my brothers for Thanksgiving. I hope I didn't make a mistake by buying this car 4 days ago.

[GPmanter]

Oh, I shoulda mentioned when I got home I also let the car sit in the driveway at idle & it finally got up to temp. Driving down the road the car will not get up to temp but sitting it does. The cooling fan did come on after a while of sitting.

[GPmanter]

FWIW, my 08 runs right around the 1/2 mark to maybe one needle width higher.

I didn't think to ask this before but is that when driving down the road or sitting at idle for an extended period of time?

[GPmanter]

Started post "Heating issues- continuation of "temp gauge question" to focus more on the issue of the lack of heat.