1998 dodge ram 1500 5.7 liter engine won't heat
Asked by 50gary Dec 08, 2015 at 08:32 PM about the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Laramie SLT Quad Cab LB RWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I have a 98 dodge ram 1500 5.7 liter truck and the engine will not heat up. I
have replaced the thermostat with the proper temp. and the heater core has
been checked and flushed. The engine is not getting hot. What else could be
the issue
8 Answers
It has to be the thermostat unless you live where it is really cold. In super cold areas some people block off part of their radiator to get heat.
3 thermostat has been installed. Last one was placed on the stove/water and it reached temp to 195. I live in Kansas. I can drive with the radiator blocked off with cardboard and the never gets hot. I can drive for hours and take the radiator cap off with my hand! Please any other ideas. I have also replaced the water pump, radiator cap, etc.... Thank you...
It's a miracle! I have never heard of an engine that cannot warm up. Strange. Is the radiator over sized or stock?
the radiator was replaced and it ran okay and fine, until I had the water pump replaced. It has never gotten to water temp. since. Any other ideas? Thank you
If the water pump worked too well the water temperature should still be normal because of the thermostat, if it was not working the engine would over heat. Do you get any heat out of your cab heater?
Not necessarily as the thermostat does not close off total circulation. It may be that the water pump is high volume pump. This would keep an engine cooler. And or if you didn't purge the air from the cooling system when refilling, may be the problem. One of the two since working on the water pump.
glasshalffull answered 8 years ago
Mark, did you ever get an answer and the truck actually get warm? I have the same problem with a Dodge 98 1500. If I put cardboard in front of the radiator completely blocked off mine will get warm. I am on my 3rd thermostat and my logic continues to tell me that the thermostat is the only things that controls the heat. Both heater hoses are warm. I'm at a loss as well! BEST WISHES
