Interesting heating issue? Options

[aspen]

So, I'm pretty sure that I have a bad thermostat, but I just wanted to make sure and get a second opinion.




In my Celica, if I have the heater on, the car won't warm up(per the temperature gauge), well, it will, it just takes a very very very long time(about 30 minutes.) If I have the heater off, it will warm up, but when I turn the heater on, the temperature gauge will drop a little signifying that it's cooler.

I'm guessing the thermostat and if so, how much should one set me back at a dealer and how hard is it to put in?


TiA!

[95CelicaST]

Bad thermostat for sure. If you drive for a bit, shut the car off, then turn it back on ~10 minutes later does it get up to "normal" operating temp? My girlfriend's Sentra was doing the same thing. 20 minutes under the hood and a thermostat later it's all good again.

I don't know if the Celica has an actual gasket for the thermostat housing. In this case pick up some RTV sealant that is specifically for thermostats. You will find that over where all of the rest of the liquid gaskets are.

Also remember to buy some antifreeze. Find something like prestone 50/50. Already mixed and ready to go!

I think my total came to ~$12.