Q&A

 Master

sounds like the theromstat is stuck open.

Roy

 Enthusiast

If your temperature gauge takes a long time to get up to midrange and/or never does, good place to start with is the thermostat. We are assuming your temp gauge is operating correctly, which is probably the case because the inside temp of the car agrees with the low reading of the gauge. There also may be more than one problem. Starting there is a low risk item. You have to get the engine up to operating temperature first and then check inside temp of car before knowing if the rest of the components that supply inside heat are working. If you take the vehicle to an auto repair facility for diagnosis, they will aim their infra-red temp gun at the thermostat housing for a temp reading. That will determine a lot.

 Technician

Totally agree with mastertech.. thermostat is stuck open