Dodgy heater / thermostat

[wadgebeast]

Car was running very cold this morning - the gauge never moved above the cold shaded bit and as a consequence the heater didn't work at all.

Is this likely to be a dodgy thermostat that's shut open, or has anyone got any bright ideas?

[mucus]

Sounds to me like it could be a stuck thermostat although the original heaters aren't great at the best of times!

[wadgebeast]

Yeah, I did fit an uprated matrix about 8 or 9 years ago to try and combat that. Thermostats are cheap! I'll start there and see how we go..

[M3 Mitch]

In my more or less stock 72 B I cover about half my radiator with cardboard in cool/cold weather, or it will run cold. You will want to cover the oil cooler completely if one is fitted and you don't have the thermostatically controlled system you can get from aftermarket.

Local shop sold me a Gates brand t-stat that will fit, apparently the current "factory" ones are not that good. If you are interested I can look up the part number.

[wadgebeast]

I might try the radiator blind idea. I had considered it, but it hasn't been cold enough yet to justify it and the engine is still running way too cold.