'96 Paseo Si - Coolant Temp Gauge intermittent(?)

[batterypowered]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to owning my Toyota Paseo, and have noticed that the car / temp gauge isn't heating up properly. The previous owner off-handedly mentioned that "this is just what Toyotas do".. but in a moment of doubt I thought I'd just check whether anyone has actually had the same issue and what I could do to diagnose it.

I've noticed that sometimes, on a hour or two drive, the gauge moves up 1 or 2 bars, but nowhere near the middle I'd expect it to be (at least on previous cars I've owned). Other times the gauge doesn't move at all.

Thanks in advance.

[Red_Corolla]

I myself have had vehicles in the past that never or rarely seem to warm up fully, so I would not assume that you were lied to but investigate all the same.

It could be that the thermostat is not closing fully. Try blocking off half of the radiator with a piece of cardboard. If that makes it warm up better then it needs a new thermostat.

[Bernard Foy]

9 minutes ago, Red_Corolla said:

I myself have had vehicles in the past that never or rarely seem to warm up fully, so I would not assume that you were lied to but investigate all the same.

It could be that the thermostat is not closing fully. Try blocking off half of the radiator with a piece of cardboard. If that makes it warm up better then it needs a new thermostat.

I would think that Red Corolla has you covered. I used to cover half the radiator on old TVO vintage tractors which wouldn’t run hot enough in frosty weather.

[RUToyota]

Odds on that it simply needs a new thermostat....no big deal.