Well, for the 5th time in 2.5 years, my vehicle is in the dealership for a T-stat problem.
I haven't been driving it much as of lately due to my new job which entitles me to a company truck, and can also use company truck for personal driving if I need.
Since the last t-stat was installed at a dealership in Medina OH about 6 months ago, my car has not gone more than 500 miles, and it's already chewed into another one..
I also noticed on my trip to a friends for a birthday the other day, that my operating temperature for my HHR was about 141 degrees! My normal is about 174. How can it be 33 degrees low? I checked the antifreeze level and that was fine..

Anyone?

 

Thermostat stuck wide open will not let the engine warm up to reach operating temperature.
I'm surprised it even registered and didn't just give you the --- reading.

 

Firemangeorge is right. If it's stuck open, it will take a long time to heat up, and it might never hit "normal". Mine was reading in the 160s when I had to do it in October (I think), but It threw a code for failing to reach operating temperature, or something along those lines.

I can't believe they are failing so often, though. That doesn't seem right. Even for me doing mine at 72K-ish, it seemed premature...

 

I just recently had to replace mine, 6 years, 85K miles.

Better stuck open than stuck closed.....

 

If it was last replaced at a dealership ~6 months ago, it may be covered under their warranty.

 

six months and 500 miles, take it back to have them fix the issue, proper this time

 

Kev- on the bright side, your air filter bracket hasn't broke in quite a while..

 

I've been meaning to ask this forum if the OEM thermostats are better than some off brand I picked up at the local auto parts - I guess not.

 

Something to consider...not surer exactly how they mount in, but, on a small block I had the t stat would screw up about once a year,,finally figured it to be the intake manifold wasnt machined correctly so when the gooseneck was installed it put a slight twist on the t stat and over time it would stick.. this was noticed because on the side of the stat there were gouge marks on a small area, yet when operated by hand it moved freely.It took 3 stats to see this....maybe you should closely inspect the next bad one.....just saying

 

Well. My home dealership took care of me. Sorry for the lack of reply sooner all. Family emergency called me.and have been preoccupied. All is okay now.
According to my home dealership when I was out of town in Medina OH that dealership did not replace it as they said. I don't know what the did, Monkeyed with it and replaced it and cleared the code. Some bull. But they got me all set. No cost. Also finally got my door locks all fixed and a car wash and detail. Merry Christmas to me. No charge for any. I'm crossing my fingers.