Can you drive with a bad thermostat?

Can I Still Drive with a Bad Thermostat? The easy answer to this question is no. While your car may be physically able to move and get you from Point A to Point B, you will want to refrain from operating your vehicle. This can lead to more parts of your vehicle being damaged, especially if the engine is overheating.

What happens if I drive with a bad thermostat?

Most automobile mechanics will tell you it is not a good idea to drive your car without a thermostat installed. If your thermostat becomes stuck in the closed position, though, this will cause your engine to overheat and make driving your car impossible.

What are the symptoms of a bad thermostat?

Can I drive my car without a thermostat?

You can drive without a thermostat for short periods of time. Without the thermostat in place, your engine won't work at the required temperature range. This action causes the engine to malfunction and affects the overall performance of your car. This can also cause your engine to take a longer time to warm up.

How do I know if my car thermostat is stuck?

Checking For the Signs of a Bad Thermostat

Look to see if the coolant is swirling/flowing immediately — that means the thermostat's stuck open. If the coolant doesn't flow after 10 minutes or so and continues to be stagnant after the temperature gauge indicates it's hot, the thermostat's likely stuck closed.

Running a Car Without a Thermostat

How much does it cost to fix a car's thermostat?

But for the average car owner, you can expect to pay between $140 and $300 for a professional mechanic to replace the thermostat in your vehicle for you. The cost of the actual thermostat unit itself is usually between $20 and $80 but can be more for luxury or sports cars.

Will a bad thermostat make the check engine light come on?

the most noticeable issues occur when the thermostat gets stuck in either the open or closed position. a malfunction can result in a trouble code, generated by the engine's computer, which can turn on your check engine light.

What does a bad thermostat sound like?

Another sign that your thermostat is going bad is strange sounds. You may hear rumbling sounds coming from the engine, and these sounds could be coming from the radiator because the coolant is boiling. It may also sound like boiling or knocking. Sometimes the sound can also be gurgling.

How do I know if my thermostat or water pump is bad?

Is it safe to drive with P0128 code?

Can I drive my vehicle with a P0128 trouble code and illuminated CEL? You may drive your vehicle with a P0128 trouble code. You will not notice any issue except for maybe the temperature gauge never reaching normal levels, and possibly the Check Engine light being illuminated.

How long does it take to replace a thermostat on a car?

It will take a mechanic between 1 to 2 hours to complete a thermostat replacement service. Depending on the shop you go to, labor can cost between $65 and $100 per hour, so call ahead to get a repair estimate.

Is changing a car thermostat easy?

Replacing a car's thermostat (or T-stat) is an easy and inexpensive repair. In most cases it will cure an overheating or no-heat problem, sparing the time and expense needed for expert diagnostics.

How often should a car thermostat be replaced?

However, most car experts recommend car thermostat replacement after 10 years. However, this is an optimistic number. Thermostats are more likely to stop working much earlier than a decade. Some factors that induce an early thermostat failure include harsh weather, rough driving, bad engine or thermostat parts.

Can a thermostat cause a car to overheat?

Another common problem that can cause your engine to overheat is a thermostat in the cooling system that is stuck in the closed position. If the thermostat is closed, the coolant cannot circulate through the system properly and the engine will overheat.

How much does a thermostat cost?

Thermostat Replacement Cost

The average cost to replace a thermostat in a home is $140 to $350, including the unit and professional installation. Thermostat prices range from $15 to $250, depending on the type, brand, and features. Nest thermostat installation costs $100 to $200 for labor if the unit is provided.

What happens when thermostat is stuck open?

If the thermostat becomes stuck in the open position, there is continuous flow of coolant into the radiator causing the engine to run cold. Overcooled engines run inefficiently, which leads to increased fuel consumption and higher emission levels and engine parts enduring more wear.

Do I have to drain coolant when replacing thermostat?

With a normal top-mounted thermostat you need drain only part of the cooling system . Do not drain it while the engine is hot — you may be scalded. Wait for the engine to cool. Drain the coolant from the radiator tap, or from the bottom hose, until it is below the level of the thermostat housing.

How long can you drive with Check Engine light for thermostat?

You can drive your car for 30 – 100 miles to ensure that the check engine light does not reappear. Due to the difficulty of calibrating various sensors, the vehicle's “Drive Cycle” is rebooted.

How much does it cost to fix P0128?

Running a diagnostic for a P0128 will cost around one hour of labor, which may run you between $75 and $150. If you need to replace the thermostat, the total cost for parts and labor will be around $470 to $505.

Can low coolant cause P0128?

Low engine coolant can alter the engine running temperature enough to signal trouble code P0128. Your intake air temperature sensor, coolant temperature sensor and coolant fan could also signal this trouble code, so these should be inspected after you look over your thermostat and coolant level.

How do you reset a thermostat code?

What could cause a P0128 code?

Causes of a P0128 code include:

A bad coolant temperature sensor. The cooling fan is stuck on. A bad intake air temperature sensor. A thermostat that's malfunctioning or stuck open (electronically controlled or traditional)

What does it mean when your coolant temperature is below thermostat regulating temperature?

The generic P0128 code stands for “Engine Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature”. This basically means that the coolant in the engine isn't reaching the ideal operating temperature and that the engine is essentially running cold.