Please help: 1992 Mazda 323 Temp goes up within seconds..
 

I just got this car and I notice the temperature goes up within 1 minute of running and the block feels hot, not red hot but hot enough that its uncomfortable to touch after a few seconds but the valve cover is cool.
It runs good, no knocking.
I replaced the temp sensor, plugs, cap, rotor, thermostat, oil (10-40) and filter, air cleaner.
The car runs good the temp rises to just under 3/4 and stays there.
What would cause this fast temperature rise?
Is this normal for Mazdas?

I never seen a car warm up so fast.
The fan works it kicks in if I high idle to 2500 after a few minutes and shuts off.

After 1 minute the temp gauge started to move, by 4-5 mins it was in its "usual" spot between 1/2 and 3/4.
The block itself felt like a very hot cup of coffee that you cant hold for more than 5 seconds.
I just let it idle, no revving.

Is this normal?

I also notice the idle is kinds shaky, not missing or lopey just a bit of shuddering especially at a stop light, I put it in neutral and it helps a bit.

I since replaced the timing belt, tensioner, cap, rotor, plugs, plug wires, belts, water pump, radiator, lower hose, oil, filter, air filter.

Its been a few weeks with the car now and it still warms up in under 1 minute and then goes to the usual 2/3's mark.

Do these engines just get hot fast?


Most cars I've owned seem to like to go to 1/4 mark, maybe half if really hot but usally never over half.

What would cause that?

thanks

did the problem occur AFTER you replaced the water pump etc? if so, could be an airlock, try bleeding it. take the water reservoir cap off and give the water hoses a good squeeze repeatedly, preferably when running

Thanks for the reply.

It was doing this since I bought it.

It just seems to warm up super fast.
I even had the rad shop reverse flush the engine in case there was some blockage.

Does anyone have a BG 323 and could tell me where the temp usually sits?

Here's a picture to show where mine sits after a few minutes and stays.

thermostat the right way round?

my old fiesta, i replaced a valve and in the process damaged the temp sensor on the head. never had a temp reading after that, HOWEVER, when the cables got wet, temp needle went all over the gaff.

maybe your wires are giving up? a small short somewhere, or poor contacts, or wet?

the gauge on your dashboard is not a true value of the temperature, rather, the temp sensor gives out a voltage which is dependent on heat. this voltage is what is displayed on your dash. so when my wires were knackered on the sensor, having them wet would give a false reading.

to clarify, the temp gauge on the dash and the temp sensor ARE NOT thermometers. check all the connections.

check all pipe work for heat - especially at the thermostat, it could be the thermo is the wrong way round, in which case one pipe will be hot the other cold. if you find a cold pipe you can work backwards to look for blockages etc etc.

Your car is old. When was coolant last properly flushed and replaced? I'm not talking just drained out either! You need to shove cleaning stuff in there and check flow, especially if any non rubber lines are there.
You could have blockage causing poor flow.
1/2 way is common for sure.

update?