Hi, all...
Please accept my apologies in advance if this has been covered here... I'm in the process of moving, and I'm so short on time that I didn't have time to research this before posting...
Anyhow... 1998 SE, 3.0 V6 Vulcan OHV, 141K...
Driving from work to rehearsal this evening, I noticed that the temperature was fluctuating between higher-than-normal and normal, and I had no heat inside the car. The temp never got up into the danger zone. Most of that drive, a short 6-mile drive, was highway with stop lights (hurry up and race to the next red light), and then city driving for a couple miles. During the highway drive, the temperature remained lower and more stable than it did during the city drive portion (as might be expected).
When I got to the studio, I checked the coolant reservoir and noted that the fluid level appeared normal. The oil's a normal color and right where it's supposed to be. The car drove normally. I did notice a slight coolant smell in the engine compartment.
When I finished rehearsal, I checked under the car for leaks and found none. I drove the car home... 2-3 miles city driving, then 20 miles highway. Same symptoms as before to start, but when I got to the highway, there would be occasional periods of slight heating (not normal amounts of heat) with better temperature regulation.
I'm not sure what's going on here... does this sound like a thermostat problem, or does it sound like the beginning of something more serious?
Many thanks in advance,
Sean
PS Another strange thing that started about 2 weeks ago is that my left-rear power window does not work anymore. Thank goodness it stopped working when it was closed...
Please accept my apologies in advance if this has been covered here... I'm in the process of moving, and I'm so short on time that I didn't have time to research this before posting...
Anyhow... 1998 SE, 3.0 V6 Vulcan OHV, 141K...
Driving from work to rehearsal this evening, I noticed that the temperature was fluctuating between higher-than-normal and normal, and I had no heat inside the car. The temp never got up into the danger zone. Most of that drive, a short 6-mile drive, was highway with stop lights (hurry up and race to the next red light), and then city driving for a couple miles. During the highway drive, the temperature remained lower and more stable than it did during the city drive portion (as might be expected).
When I got to the studio, I checked the coolant reservoir and noted that the fluid level appeared normal. The oil's a normal color and right where it's supposed to be. The car drove normally. I did notice a slight coolant smell in the engine compartment.
When I finished rehearsal, I checked under the car for leaks and found none. I drove the car home... 2-3 miles city driving, then 20 miles highway. Same symptoms as before to start, but when I got to the highway, there would be occasional periods of slight heating (not normal amounts of heat) with better temperature regulation.
I'm not sure what's going on here... does this sound like a thermostat problem, or does it sound like the beginning of something more serious?
Many thanks in advance,
Sean
PS Another strange thing that started about 2 weeks ago is that my left-rear power window does not work anymore. Thank goodness it stopped working when it was closed...
