I purchased a MR2 last month , when I was driving it home it kept cutting out on me, once it had cooled down it would start again! I thought it may be the thermostat as the car was temputure guage was not going up into the red, I think I have found the thermostat housing but there is no thermostat there!
Is it best to buy a thermostat and put in or do you think there is a problem with the car as there was no thermostat in it?

Richard, January 2007

An engine thermostat is designed to hold water in the engine block until it reaches its opening temperature and then allowing water to circulate the radiator to cool. No thermostat suggests to me that someone has had overheating problems in the past and removed it. Maybe you have a blockage in the radiator, or the cooling fan isn't switching on. Try bypassing the thermostat ( I believe its fitted into the radiator) ie pull the 2 connectors off it & join the 2 wires together, the fan should then run with ignition on.

Nobby, January 2007