welchk85

i have a 1990 camaro that is a project car that i used to use as a everyday driver i have been having problems since the begining of the winter with a blown alternator had to change plugs, plug wires and distributer then i had to change vacuum lines and also changed the oil pressure sending unit. now the problem that im having is that it runs decent still a little sluggish but when i first start it up the temp gauge for the coolant goes way up after about a minute then if i let it sit and idle it stays just at the begining of the red zone on the temp gauge then if i put it in gear and drive up my driveway and drive back tot he spot it will be in normal range and wont do it for the rest of time that its running....so what could the problem be? and i know the coolant isnt low or to high.

Aaron R.

Your thermostat might be sticking. Sometimes they stick bad after startup and have to get real hot to free up, then they work fine as long as they stay warm. They are less than $10 from any auto parts store.

welchk85

Now the thing is that I'm still learning so were is that located and do I change it?

Atilla the Fun

I don't have photoshop so I'll leave the pic to someone else. The upper radiator hose starts at the top of the radiator on the driver's side. Follow it to it's other end, top front of the engine. See that metal thing it's clamped to? That's the thermostat housing. There are 2 bolts holding it. Now, while you're replacing your thermostat, drill a 1/16" steam hole in the new thermostat before installing it. Put the center of this new hole about 1/4" in from the outermost edge, then install the stat with this new steam hole toward the front of the car.

welchk85

Ok thanks and what is the point of drilling the hole? How does that help anything?

Atilla the Fun

If your engine ever does develop a steam pocket, it'll naturally move to the area under the thermostat. If you have a steam pocket there, but no steam hole drilled, the stat will never open, and you'll kill the engine. If the steam can escape, then the hot coolant can then get to the stat and cause it to open.