It is Cold Now
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
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It is Cold Now
It's cold now. Too cold for my liking. The temp in Ohio today is expected to only reach 24 and the low this morning was 9. My truck just didn't seem to ever get up to temperature this morning. It started fine, and ran fine, but the windows didn't really defrost and the temp gauge sat on the cool side for about an hour until I got to work. I think I may need something to cover the front of the grill, like you see on a school bus in the winter. Anyone know where I can get one, or make one that will look good on my 79 F150? Thanks in advance for any help.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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It is Cold Now
You might want to make sure your thermostate is working. It should be closed untill the motor gets warm. I had a brand new one stuck open from the time I put it in. It never got warm. I've put cardboard in front of the radiator for a temporary fix.
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: fortworth usa
It is Cold Now
Man I am glad I live in Texas, although it does get cold here from time to time. I am not sure about the radiator cover deal, but it sounds like you need to check on the thermostat for your engine. It sould get warm no matter the outside temp, unless it really gets cold. It sure does sound like the thermostat is stuck open or not in there at all. Take the cap off the radiator..MAKE SURE THE ENGINE IS COOL...one way to check is to feel the top hose, if its hard there is pressure under that cap, make sure once the cap is off that the radiator is full of coolant. Low coolant will make the heater not work so good either. Start the truck if you see the coolant moving around right away, chances are the t-stat is stuck open. If you arent sure, then you should remove the t-stat and check it in some water in a pan on the stove. put the t-stat in water and turn the stove on check and make sure it opens close to the temp that its rated at.
Another thing I thought of is if the radiator is plugged up you may not get enough flow. I had a buddy with a truck that the heater core was plugged up and his heat didnt work... good luck
Another thing I thought of is if the radiator is plugged up you may not get enough flow. I had a buddy with a truck that the heater core was plugged up and his heat didnt work... good luck
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It is Cold Now
The next most obvious thing to check is the control valve that allows hot coolant coming from the engine to enter the heater core and then circulate back into the system----on my 77 f250 this valve is vacuum actuated from inside the cab.......switch your temperature control to hot and then feel of both hoses ----if the hose that DOESN't have the valve inline-is cold then the valve is NOT opening up and letting the hot coolant into the heater core hence no warm air coming fron the heater--most likely 
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It is Cold Now
My question arose because the thermostat is brand new as is the radiator. I have not checked the heater core or the hoses and cables to make sure the heater is actuating. The cab does warm up to a temperature that seems consistent with the engine running cool. If I put cardboard in front of the radiator and drive around and the cab gets hot then what do I do? Should I just leave it blocked? I will check the cables and core tomorrow. I may just replace the core as I think it's only $20. Thanks to all.
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It is Cold Now
I don't believe you ever said what the temperature is of your thermostat , but I wouldn't have one that was less than 195 degrees-or-higher----------Anew thermostst can be defective from the getgo---don't assume that it is "good"-----replace your radiator cap as well---also your heater core can have trash in it that will hinder or block the flow of air --if you have antifreeze in your floorboard--then replace your heater core---- :-X12
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It is Cold Now
All summer my truck seemed to run too hot. I just replaced the thermostat and the fan and fan clutch. Now, it runs where it should.When I was in Indiana, we put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator to keep the cold air out.You don't want to restrict all your air flow though. Just cover about half the size of your radiator. It worked well for my truck.Also, just because a thermostat is new, doesn't mean it can't be bad.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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It is Cold Now
The item you are talking about is called a " Winter front"
and can be custom made at any auto upolstery shop ,Mine cost me $60 Canadian.
If you are going the Cardboard cover *MAKE SURE* you have about 5 air holes in it ,One in each corner and one in the middle,otherwise you might BOIL OVER.
Dennis
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
and can be custom made at any auto upolstery shop ,Mine cost me $60 Canadian.
If you are going the Cardboard cover *MAKE SURE* you have about 5 air holes in it ,One in each corner and one in the middle,otherwise you might BOIL OVER.
Dennis
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 962
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From: Collierville, TN
It is Cold Now
You mentioned that the radiator and thermostat are brand new. Did you replace them yourself? In any case, check your coolant level. Often, coolant isn't properly refilled after major cooling system work because when it is refilled the engine is cold and the thermostat is closed. An old mechanic's trick is to stick a couple of aspirin in the new thermostat when you install it to prop it open. That ensures that you can fully fill the system. The aspirin will dissolve pretty quickly, though, allowing the thermostat to close and operate like it should.
Low coolant shouldn't cause your truck to run cold, though -- just the opposite. It might theoretically prevent you from getting enough heat from the heater core, but your engine should be plenty warm. For those reasons, I agree that the most likely causes of your problem are a defective thermostat or a defective heater control valve or both. If the engine itself is actually warm but you're not getting heat in the cab, then check your coolant level and your heater core along with the heater control valve.
Low coolant shouldn't cause your truck to run cold, though -- just the opposite. It might theoretically prevent you from getting enough heat from the heater core, but your engine should be plenty warm. For those reasons, I agree that the most likely causes of your problem are a defective thermostat or a defective heater control valve or both. If the engine itself is actually warm but you're not getting heat in the cab, then check your coolant level and your heater core along with the heater control valve.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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It is Cold Now
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Dec-01 AT 12:12 PM (EST)]An old
>mechanic's trick is to stick a couple of aspirin in the new
>thermostat when you install it to prop it open. That
>ensures that you can fully fill the system. The aspirin
>will dissolve pretty quickly, though, allowing the
>thermostat to close and operate like it should.
Two Asprin's?
This sounds like a SURE FIRE method of Eliminating Cooling System Headaches !
Dennis
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
>mechanic's trick is to stick a couple of aspirin in the new
>thermostat when you install it to prop it open. That
>ensures that you can fully fill the system. The aspirin
>will dissolve pretty quickly, though, allowing the
>thermostat to close and operate like it should.
Two Asprin's?
This sounds like a SURE FIRE method of Eliminating Cooling System Headaches !
Dennis
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 6
From: SD
It is Cold Now
[font color=red size=2]The local NAPA has a winter front for the '78-'79 grill. It is a canvas square that snaps onto the grill. It was somewhere around $40 (if my memory serves me).
Marty
Marty