Ok, i got my engine running, i started it up and let it run till the choke went in, the temperature guage wasent moving, so i checked to see if it was plugged in...... now.. i put the coolant in lastnight and after running it to get the coolant through the system i added a little bit more fluid, its topped off right now...
my temperature guage is sitting at the bottom, it hasent moved at all.....
my heater is blowing out cold air.....
im wondering what the issue is....
the engine is running very good, it need new plugs and the timing is way off...

back to the temperature issue...
is it possible that i have a bad water pump?

please help me
-greg

 

is it really cold out?

 

25-30 degrees or so....
But the choke went in by itself which indicates that the engine is at operating temperature...
It might be possible that the 79 wiring harness has a different wire placement than the original one (im using the harness that was with this engine..)
but isint the temperature sensor on the radiator?

-greg

 

should be a little prong right next to the oil pressure sender

at least on my 82 and 83 engine

 

Is your radiator and hoses warm? Is so then I'd say that water is flowing fine and your pump is good.

Just a thought..... you could still have some air trapped in the system which is stopping warm water from hitting your heater.

 

the radiator hoses did not seem very warm.....
if i do have air in the system.... what do i need to do to get it out??

-greg

 

The temp sensor, at least on my 84, is on the block, next to the oil sending unit. It's a prong quick-connect.

When my temp gauge did that, I changed the sensor - turns out it'd cracked. When I tried to remove it, it broke off in the block. Put a new one in, gauge works fine, but was a serious PITA.

 

Hey, i own a 79 also, i live in indiana i was driving it around in about 40-50 degree weather also. the temp gauge does move up but maybe one or two slashes, the motor runs fine, but i also have heat and i dont have the choke in at all and it doesnt miss reving at 750 after a good 10 minutes of driving i thought it could be a short but it souns like it could just be in the engine bay by something cold. im interested to see if it goes up in the summer in some warm weather.

 

well i got it up to temp after about 10 mins of running after it was warm, the heater worked fine and the hoses got warm....

i guess she is just cold blodded...

temp guage still dosent work...
im gonna swap the sending units out today

-greg

 

The sensor on the radiator is the coolant "level" sender.
The coolant temp sender is on the block under the oil filter to the left of the oil pressure sending unit. it's just a prong sticking out, never heard of one failing, if it is hooked up make sure your wiring is good.

 

Ground the connector for the gauge. With ign power on, the gauge should go all the way high. Your problem is most likely from using the 79 harness. Why arent you using the harness originally in the car? Itd be alot easier. Wiring changed thru the years.

 

I have this same issue

the temp gauge hangs at the bottom of the gauge, but the car ran ok and there was tons of heat

ha d hose fail and had to refill the cooling system

the engine runs good, but now there is no heat

I have heard the air issue before but how do i get the air out?

i ran the motor withthe rad cap off for 10 mins when i was fillin git to let the airbubbles out.. should i be doing more?

and the coolant level sensor was disconnected and grounded by the previous owner.. any reason he may have done it?

IE level sensor failed, or whatever?