Ok, I have an 86 GXL that I recently replaced the water pump, and while I was at it I decided to replace the thermostat. So I did, but after the work was done, the coolant still wasn't flowing, so I thought that it must be the thermostat, so I took it off and ran the car without it. It worked just like I thought it would. The coolant run through fine and I lost HP. So now I just put my 3'rd thermostat in, because I want my HP back to normal. The coolant did not run at all. What could make it so the coolant will run without a thermostat, but with one, it won't? I have even put the old one in that worked in the first place. All the thermostats that I have put in were supposed to be self adjusting, and they have no way to adjust them.

 

You know the coolant doesn't flow until the car warms up; right???

 

Yeah, at idle speed, the temp goes about 3/4 of the way up in around 10 minutes. If you rev it a little or drive it at all it goes up to there in around 3 minutes. I haven't let it go any higher.

 

are they mazda parts or are the just a genaric brand from a parts store?

only use mazda thermostates!!

 

No they were napa and the advanced auto.

 

Only use Mazda thermostats! You should also check that the fan clutch is working properly. If it's not engaging an idling engine will overheat.

 

I hate to ask, but did you put them in the right way. I don't remember off the top of my head which end is supposed to go inward, but it makes an enormous difference. Check your manual. As for the only Mazda thermostat issue. Mazda buys their thermostats from the same manufacturer as a couple of off the shelf generics. It's kinda like only buying name brand cereal. It's the same damn stuff, just a different label. There are some brands to stay away from, but if the previously working thermostat no longer works, I bet you've got it in backwards.

 

While I agree with that it sounds like the thermostat is in the wrong direction, I completely disagree with your idea of the Mazda thermostat.

The Mazda thermostat while may be made by outside vendors it is custom made in japan for the rotary motor. It is not a domestic built one that fits a dozen different cars.

You should only be using the Mazda thermostat. This has been proved over and over. Here is a thread just last week by someone that said the same exact thing as kristopher_d: http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/showth...&threadid=2568

 

I put the thermostat in like Haynes told me to. The part with the springs was down. And the fan clutch does work.

 

The jiggle pin needs to be up. Besides, you must use the Mazda brand thermostat.

See also the Mazda Factory Service Manual at this site under How-To's/Manuals:
http://fc3s.org/

 

Which generic brands? All the generic brands I have seen suck, some aren't even a two-stage unit, and most don't even have a jiggle pin.

 

Well, I couldn't find my files, so forget it and go with Mazda thermostats. Maybe I was even mistaken on the part. If I come across that file I'll post a thread, but since I don't have it, Mazda parts are safer.