Cold Dakota

[upnorth]

I just bought a 95 dakota with the 3.9 engine and this thing runs cold. I replaced the thermostat(quite and adventure on that thing) and covered about half the grill with cardboard. It still never seems to really warm up. It does get off the cold line and blows lukewarm at best air. Even when it does warm up a bit it takes about 5 miles or so just to get off the cold line. And it is worse when it really cold. I know the heater core may not be flowing real well but the never really warming up has to be part of it too.

Any ideas?

[katophil]

sounds to me a leak somewere and no building any pressure, that includes the rad cap. Grad the upper hose and just see if its hard with the motor warmed up as best you can do.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Does the engine sound like its roaring all the time? Even more so when your on the throttle?

What temp t-stat did you put in it?

[Gus]

Sorry about the hijack but what is that roaring you mention Airjer? I've got an 02 Dakota 4.7L that does that sometimes first thing in the AM. Once I get into second gear or so then it'll quit.

[Scott K]

He would be refering to the cooling fan, if the clutch was locked up, the fan would roar, and would be over cooling the engine. They will roar at first start up, but after it warms some, it should stop.

[Macgyver55]

The roaring would be the fan clutch may be bad and not releasing after its warmed up.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Gus, your condition is normal. They will roar when you first start them and then settle down until needed.

[Gus]

Thanks guys. I haven't owned the truck very long so I wasn't quite sure of the quirks she has.

[upnorth]

Not sure what the temp was I will have to look on the box. I just asked for a thermostat and never thought about what temp it was, but it is acting just like it did before the new thermostat. I will have to see what if it "roars". Is there a way I can manually check to see if the clutch fan is working correctly?

[Macgyver55]

With the engine off of course, take hold of the fan blades and see if you can rotate it easily. Some resistance is normal. If it is very hard to turn or wont turn at all the clutch is likely bad.

[Scott K]

I have ran into a number of new bad stats, so I wouldnt rule that out either.

[upnorth]

Thanks Macgyver, I kinda thinking about that on the way home from work. Haven't messed with those for quite some time. I will have to check it out. But it would make sense the fan running all the time and it taking forever to get even slightly warm.