Been there done that. 
Anyone else stick around to make sure the interior lights actually go off?
I got my 2003 f-150 from a friend. his son did not want it because he was getting a new truck. he put an aftermarket stereo in it. it is worth more than the truck. it has Bluetooth, usb port, hands free, equalizer, its touch screen, you can watch DVD movies on it. I just listen to the radio or CD’s.
so about 6 months after I got it, I am driving, and I am slowing for a red light, and I am under an overpass. all of a sudden, the radio cuts out for a second and it says GPS signal lost and then the radio comes back on a second later. I thought it was the radio station because I do not have navigation. 3 months later I get stuck at the same spot, and it happens again. I am thinking what the heck is going on. so, when I get home I start going through the menu and all the settings. I am an idiot, I guess it does have navigation. it only took 9 months to figure it out. LOL
Okay perhaps I have a misconception. I had thought thermostats had only two states, open or closed. But does the fact that the wax expands as it heats allow the thermostat to go from closed to partially open and then further and further open until it’s fully open?
Are you driving a $300 truck? I dislike handling those cheap radios while working on the older vehicles. Spaghetti wiring going in every direction, adds labor time that I am not compensated for.
If you’re driving in Texas in the middle of Summer then the thermostat may never close. But here in the North East when it’s -5 that thermostat is opening and closing many time an hour. The water cools down too quickly in that weather.
Yeah, in cold weather it could open and close some. Any kind of warm weather, it opens and stays open until you shut off the engine. The normal engine operating temperature is typically above the thermostats opening temperature.
Years ago most buses and big trucks had to put covers in front of radiators during the winter because it would cool too much. In the north many trucks would over-cool. I had that problem with my 72 F150 pickup (302 V8). Huge front-'end and very large radiator. I didn’t use a fancy cover…A piece of cardboard did the trick.
Whenever I get a new thermostat I test it before installing it using a pan of water on the stove and a candy thermometer. Just note the temps that the thermostat opens and begins closing again and you’ll get the idea.