I just put a new head on my '85 22re along with a new water pump. I replaced the head in part due to coolant lose and no heat. Thought the head gasket was blown or had a crack in the head around an exhaust valve. I didn't have very good heat either. I replaced the thermostat in the spring with the Toyota 2 valve thermostat. Now after back flushing my heater core I have heat but my radiator does not heat up. I tested the thermostat to make sure it was still opening and closing all the way. The temp gauge is on normal but I don't think it is correct. I don't want to take a chance of overheating and warping my new head or blowing a head gasket. What else do I need to check? The coolant does not seem to be circulating since the radiator does not warm up. Thanks for any help.

Maybe the radiator is clogged and hot water can't get to spots of it and it's making it feel cold.

I forgot to mention I had the radiator cleaned at the same time I replaced the thermostat.

Depending on how it was cleaned you still could have some clogs in there, or worst case some of the core could be damaged, pinching off coolant passageways, causing the cold spots you're feeling. If you feel that it was a through cleaning and there is no visible exterior damage to it you might have to bite the bullet and pick up a new one. I got a new radiator a while back from a radiator shop in town, it's a 3-core model that's alot bigger than the stocker, cools a HECK of alot better and it was about $125ish....not bad if you ask me.

EDIT: Sorry don't know what I was thinkin...$125 NOT $175.....

i got my 3 core for about 110 from radiatorbarn.com. came to my door about a day and a half after i ordered it too.

If the thermostats working and the radiator had cold spots then chanches are that the radiators clogged. Get a new one at Radiator Barn as previously suggested and go from there.
You might want to take the old radiator back to whomever "cleaned" it if the new radiator solves your problem for a refund.

My radiator does not have cold spots, it doesn't heat up at all. Both upper and lower tanks are cold. I let it run the other day for over 1/2 hour and I never saw the thermostat open. That is why I checked the thermostat in boiling water to make sure it opened at all. I am going to remove it completely to see if the water is flowing. Any other ideas?

My radiator does not have cold spots, it doesn't heat up at all. Both upper and lower tanks are cold. I let it run the other day for over 1/2 hour and I never saw the thermostat open. That is why I checked the thermostat in boiling water to make sure it opened at all. I am going to remove it completely to see if the water is flowing. Any other ideas?

If it ran for over 1/2 hour an dnever got warm, my guess is you will be doing the head gasket again or maybe more. Maybe it impeller on the H2O pump is bad? I would remove the T-stat and run it. Keep the radiator cap off and see if you have water flow......

+1 for checkin it without the thermostat. I'm not sure about the head gasket but I'd run a compression test just to make sure, and while you're at it, do a leakdown test, this'll let ya know how the top end is doing and maybe show a HG prob. Also check for coolant in your oil and vice versa.

What temp is your T-Stat? I just got a Toyota factory one for my 22R and it says 88*C, that should be around 190*F....actually 190.4*F to be exact <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />