The Nissan Path

I just got my 95 Pathfinder back from the shop. They replaced the timing belt / water pump / thermostat. The gauge never reads more than 1/5 the way up from C even after driving for 20-30 min on the highway.

I didn't notice any issues with the gauge prior to taking it into the shop. Did they install a busted thermostat?

perhaps you had a hotter thermostat in it before, and they went back to OEM? Do you know what they installed? See if you can find out.

I always stick with OEM in my vehicles. The aftermarket ones just look like poor quality, and my experience with them has never been good.

A normal position on the heat gauge is usually 1/2 or just under 1/2.

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That's pretty common with aftermarket thermostats; they tend to run a little colder than the genuine Nissan thermostats.

Thanks for the replies folks. If the thermostat continuously read low, does that suggest that it might be stuck open?

I wouldn't otherwise be alarmed but the gauge doesn't come anywhere close to half-way between C/H. It barely reads about 3 needle-widths above C.

It sounds like it's stuck open by your description. Even the aftermarket 'stats that run on the cooler side still get close to the middle of the range. You might have gotten a defective part.