My car has been sitting most of the last year. I'm trying to get it back on the road so I need to get it to the smog test place BUT... it won't kick down from high idle (at 2K). The temp gauge isn't coming up to the middle like it used to. It's at about 1/4 or maybe a little higher. (car idles while on stands in my garage, not done with some other work yet)
I figured "thermostat didn't like doing nothing all year and died" so I got another one and replaced it to no avail. Tested the old one on the stove and it seems to work fine.

What could cause the engine to not heat-up? Seems impossible if the t-stat is working and even if it were stuck open, it'd get warm eventually...
Or, am I chasing a red herring? IAC, Thermowax? should I get the fricken wheels on the thing and drive it up the road a few times to get it good and hot?

 

well....if your car is an s4, the temp gauge should only read a little over a 1/4 of the way max...

I'd say its warmed up and you have a different issue altogether...

If it won't kick down from high idle, check the things that affect idle. Vaccum leaks, TPS, BAC, throttle cable, idle stop screw....

 

That's about the correct temp reading - check your thermowax assembly and see if it's physically holding your throttle open.

 

you can turn the heat on and see if hot air is blowing. If it does then then engine is warming up.

 

Well I would sware that the temp needle is usually right at the midway point but it's been so long since I drove the damn thing...


I'll start checking all the other crap
Grrrr, I wanteed to spend all the money on rehab/upgrades

 

If your temp guage reads half way or more, then you probably need a new water pump - look for slight coolant leakage by water pump leak hole.