operating temperature

[sho'noff]

Did it have a jiggle valve and did you put the valve at the 12 o'clock position?

yes, a juggle valve is in it and it was at the top. lucky guess.

 

[sho'noff]

Czech Indian light still comes on, the previous owner said not to play with the electrical so I am hesitant about the ford tester with the blinking light and beep.

 

[sho'noff]

wow, this car only smelled like antifreeze on long trips, now it is all the time. I think the overflow reservoir is leaking........... the radiator hose feels pressurized and the radiator cap is hot. wonder what one of those costs.

 

[SHOdded]

Any spots on the carpet? Could be a busted heater core ...

 

[BaySHO Performance]

Ever since I swapped the thermostat in my 95, on REALLY HOT summer days in the 90s, that sucker creeps up to the L sometimes in NORMAL on the gauge.

You need a new temp gauge sender (single wire sender just in front of the thermostat). Old senders read way low like yours.

 

[sho'noff]

I don't think it is the heater core, although I considered the puddle of water in the back seat a possibility. Me at Fred Meyers yesterday "where did we park the car? oh, the antifreeze smell is coming from that row over there."
There is a wet spot running down the frame by the overflow reservoir I don't have the motivation to figure this problem out.
Similar to a cold housefly, you can just step on him(I did that earlier on the porch outside).
I would just as soon build a shogun fiesta(2013) if I had the resources, money, and motivation.

 

[sho'noff]

it appears the bottom of the reservoir is leaking at the opposite end from the hose.