Needs a new thermastat how do you replace it?

IT MEANS THE ENGINE IS COLD FOR TO LONG SO ITS A TEMPERATURE SENSOR. YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE THERMASTAT IN YOUR CAR. THE GAGE IS WORKING OR YOU WOULD NOT GET A 1287 CODE SO DONT MESS WITH THE GAUGE, JUST GET A NEW THERMASTAT. AND UNHOOK YOUR NEGATIVE CABLE ON THE BATTERY BEFOR YOU REPLACE THIS AND TURN IGNITION TO START POSITION AND DO A TEN SECOND COUT, THEN REPLACE THE THERMASTAT , THEN HOOK YOUR NEGATIVE CABLE BACK UP THIS CLEARS THE CODES IN YOUR CAR SO IT WILL READ NEW CODES AS THINGS GO OUT. ALWAYS CLEAR YOUR CODES BEFOR DOING THE REPAIR AND DONT HOOK UP THE BATTERY UNTIL YOUR DONE WORKING ON IT,

THE THERMASTAT WILL BE LOCATED AT THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE RADIATOR HOSE! ON THE ENGINE, YOU WILL SEE TWO BOLTS HOLDING THE INLET ON THE ENGINE! DRAIN THE RADIATOR, AND REMOVE THE HOSE FROM THE ENGINE INLET! UNBOLT THE INLET, AND YOU WILL SEE THE THERMASTAT, REPLACE IT IN THE SAME WAY THE OLD ONE COMES OUT, (USUALLY THE SPRING SIDE WILL GO IN TOWARD ENGINE)! THEN PLACE THE NEW GASKET ON THE INLET, AND REBOLT IT TO THE ENGINE! REPLACE THE HOSE, TIGHTEN IT DOWN, ADD ANTIFREEZE TILL FULL, START ENGINE, AND CHECK FOR LEAKS! YOU CAN REMOVE THE RADIATOR CAP AND WATCH THE COOLANT, AS THE THERMASTAT OPENS, THE COOLANT WILL START MOVING! REPLACE THE CAP,

YES! DRAIN THE RADIATOR! THE THERMASTAT IS AT THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE TOP RADIATOR HOSE! REMOVE THE HOSE! AND THE THERMASTAT HOUSING HAS TWO BOLTS HOLDING IT ON! REMOVE THE TWO BOLTS, AND THE HOUSING! CLEAN THE AREA AROUND THE BASE OF THE HOUSING! SCRAP OFF THE OLD GASKET FROM THE HOUSING, AND ON THE ENGINE! REPLACE THE GASKET WITH A NEW ONE! PLACE THE NEW THERMASTAT IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE OLD ONE COMES OUT! REPLACE THE HOUSING, TIGHTEN THE BOLTS, AND PUT THE RADIATOR HOSE BACK ON, RETIGHTEN IT, AND FILL WITH ANTIFREEZE, AND CHECK FOR LEAKS!

you will need to remove the exhaust manifold in order to get to the water pump that sits on the thermastat. Once you get the manifold off you will see the water pump there will be 4 bolts that hold the belly to the pump remove them and left it up the thermastat is under it.

yes, you can do it with minimal tools. First though, please see my tip at http://www.fixya.com/cars/r5929960-s_thermostat . These are generic instructions. If you get stuck or need specific instructions for your car, please get back to me with model, year and engine info.

Here is the procedure for your car:

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Drain the coolant.
3. Remove the air intake duct.
4. Disconnect the radiator hose
5. Remove the thermostat housing.
6. Remove the thermostat.
7. Clean all sealing surfaces.
   

Fig. Thermostat and housing-typical

To install:

1. Install the thermostat.
2. Install the thermostat housing using a new gasket.
3. Install the thermostat housing bolts and tighten as follows:
   1. 1999 models: 15 ft. lbs. (20 Nm)
   2. 2000-05 models: 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).
   
   
4. Connect the radiator hose.
5. Install the air intake duct.
6. Refill the coolant.
7. Connect the negative battery cable.
8. Start the engine and check for leaks.

follow top radiator hose to engine where hose stops thats where the tstats at.

Hi Friend:

To Locate your thermastat, Open your Hood and look down at the top of your radiator.You'll see a Top Raditor Hose that goes from your radiator to your Thermastat Housing.

You'll see a Hose clamp on the Thermastat housing .

NOTE: before you loosen the Hose Clamp Make sure you your car is cooled down and remove your radiator cap to release any pressure that is in your system.

After the Hose is off you'll see a Domed shaped Housing that is your Thermastat Housing. Remove the Bolts that Hold the Housing on and Seals the Cooling System.From Leaking out of the Housing.

After removing the Housing you'll see your Thermastat .Just remove it and Clean up all old gasket Material so you can replace the gasket with your new one .But put in your new thermastat 1st.

Then make sure you seal the gasket with Gasket Glue. And Replace the Housing Bolts and Tighten up good and Sung.

Put back on your hose then clamp.And Refill your Radiator with Coolant.

This will get your new thermastat in and get you Ready to go .

Thanks for using FixYa Please let me Know how my Solution helped you.By Voting .

Thanks Again From: d_hubbs

Hi: You'll first want to Drain your Radiator take your radiator cap off so when drain it the coolant will drain freely.Then Drain your raditor you'll find a Drain Tee outlet on the inside bottom of your radiator. And catch the Coolant in a Drain Pan. Standing in Front of your Vehicle you'll see a Hose connected to your Radiator(UPPER RADIATOR HOSE) take your Hand and follow it down to your Engine until you locat a Hose Clamp Remove the hose clamp and work off the top Radiator Hose.Where you removed the hose theres a Dome Shaped Metal Housing,with 2 bolts in it. Take those 2-Bolts out and Remove the Dome Thermastat Housing,Under it You'll Find your Thermostat it shuold come out with a little Resistance. Once its out, Clean Up The Thermastat Dome of any Gasket still left on it, and clean where you remove the Thermastat Surface.To put back just Reverse the Removal Be-sure your Thermastat is put in right and not up side down.Then get some Gasket Sealer Put a Little on the Thermastat Housing where gasket goes and some on the Enging surface and Install your New Thermastat,Be careful when Tightening the 2-Bolts on The Housing. not to Over tighten them.The torque Specs on the 2 bolts range between 10- 15 Foot pounds.You don't want to Strip,
After you get your New Thermastat in and your Radiator Hose on and Clamped.Make Sure you have closed the Drain outlet. then fill with coolant,if your coolant is old i recommend putting new coolant in. I hope this helps You.I;m Sure it Will, But please let me Know through FIXYA by Voting and a Testamony.This way I'll know that my solution was Helpful. Thanks From d_hubbs

the thermostat should be closed when you take it out, therefore the thermostat is bad. It does not closed.

about 10-20bucks ez fix buy a new thermastat replace it, if that doesnt work ,then get a coolant flush....if you need help locating the thermastat.. go to ask.com and ask where is the thermastat on """"""""""""///(your veh)