coolant temp needle doesn't move past 11:30 & high idle
 

So I noticed that my coolant temp needle doesn't move past "11:30" (little before halfway point), where it used to hang around "12:45-1:00" before. The car also likes to idle around 2.1-2.5k RPM..

I would write my hypothesis but I'd like to see what the gurus have to say without me swaying things with my likely misguided opinions. :gay:

I like mine to never go past 11:30. Any past that and the motor is getting too hot. As for the high idle, adjust your idle screw?

Could be that with the higher idle you are moving more water and keeping the temp down where it belongs. Replace the thermostat and drop the idle. Flush the whole thing out while you have it open.

i track my stock 1.6 with an auto radiator...hard. I've had it out in 103* heat, given the track everything the 1.6 had, and the needle never moved. I have seen it move previously, when I had too much coolant in.

To revisit, the thermostat is stuck open. The engine was dumping extra fuel and idling high (adjuster screw is now ALL the way in and it STILL idles at 1500!) draining my tank and giving me a very sooty rear bumper. I'll be replacing the Tstat with another NAPA #42 on Sunday and let you know how that goes.

Today though, go-karting in ATL! Andretti Speed Lab FTW!

While you are at it, pull the temp sensor at the rear of the engine and test or replace it and check the wiring going to it. It may be telling the ECU that your temp is way low and throwing in the extra fuel(like the resistor trick for European GReddys)

I'll do that if the thermostat doesn't fix it, for sure.

Atlanta dudes: I couldn't get the karts under 23.735.. but I beat my dad and my wife!

Damn. New thermostat didn't fix it. :(

olderguy - I'm clueless about the temp sensor in the rear of the engine. Which plug is it?

The one with the green top

Ahh, thank you. Now to call parts store.

hmm, i wasn't datalogging this morning, but i was idling at like 2k durng warmup, and like 1.5k when i should have been at operating temp... wonder if i have a similar issue going on.

keep us updated.

Okay, so I bought the part and went to install it..

..there's no way my hand is fitting back there. I figure I'll do it when I install my clutch. I can drill/tap the pan really easy while it's out too.