It takes awhile for my car to heat up now that the weather is cold. The temperature gauge never gets to the half way mark between H & C. Its always towards the C. The heat doesn't really get very hot either. How do I fix this?

 

Your thermostat is stuck open.

Read the FAQ for the fix.

 

isnt it better when the car is cold?

 

well its better than being stuck closed

 

No, it's better when the car is at proper temperature.

When the car is cold, the ECU runs an extra-rich fuel map to warm it up (think computer controlled choke). If it never warms up...well, you get the idea.

Also, you dont get any cabin heat if it never warms up. This sucks, especially when you are trying to defrost the windshield.

Plus, if the coolant never warms up properly, the the ATF wont maintain proper temp either.

 

Good answer. What amazes me is that pretty darn sophisticated motors still rely on such a cheap device to regulate the temp--I guess nothing more is really needed. Just imagine, in the middle of the desert, a car with a normally functioning radiator and no thermostat will never warm up! The radiator was engineered to have the over-capacity with the therm. regulating temp. But as the radiator gets older and the tubes get plugged, the opposite happens. Therm. is stuck open, but motor still runs too hot.