Thermostat Question

[Northrunner]

I bought my truck used in June of '01. From then on it has always run very cool. The temp needle almost never moves off the 140 degree mark. Sometimes in the summer it would move up to about 160 for a short time and then back down to about 140-145 degrees. Now that the air temps have gotten cold, the heater will not put much warm air in the cab. I'm thinking the thermostat is stuck open and I'm going to replace it. The Dodge dealer sells a thermostat for $32, Cummins Northwest's price is $25, and Napa sells their best grade of thermostat for $12. Any reason I should not buy the Napa product and save a little money? Does this sound like a thermostat problem to you all also?



Best Regards,

Northrunner

 

[Joe G.]

The NAPA stat is probably the exact same thing the others are selling. No reason not to get parts from NAPA.

 

[Tardog]

Make sure you get the most up to date t stat for your truck as cummings updated the 97's and previous. To try and get rid of the fluctuating gauge Although it sounds like yours is stable. the updated t stat for 97 12v blocks is "Cummins p/n 3934373 is the newest 12V T-Stat. " maybe check it out?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Tardog

Make sure you get the most up to date t stat for your truck as cummings updated the 97's and previous. To try and get rid of the fluctuating gauge Although it sounds like yours is stable. the updated t stat for 97 12v blocks is "Cummins p/n 3934373 is the newest 12V T-Stat. " maybe check it out?

Northrunner



To elaborate a bit, the older thermostat cycles constantly. Your temp guage will go up to say 185-190 then drop back to about 140, then do it all over again. The newer number is supposed to stop that. Can't help with the NAPA part. Can the NAPA dealer give you any more info?

 

[sewman]

I bought my stat @ KMart for $5. 00 for a Dodge 360 engine got a 180 degree been using it for a good 3yrs now.

Works for me

Bob

 

[drawson]

I have had 4 thermostat in my since it was new. All of the bad one where stuck open by the rubber insulator coming off and getting stuck hold it open. This last time I put a Stant in (w/ no rubber insulator). It won't have the problem the last three did, but it does flux about the same as the very first one.