How to genwon thermostat w/o removing PS pump or compressor.

To start off with my thermostat started to stick open. If you read the title then you know what I did to solve it. \\
Difficulty for me was about 3 india pale ales (stone brewery). Yes it was a little bit of a pain but i didn't feel like removing the PS pump and compressor.

I used 1/4 drive tools, flex head ratchet, various extensions, 8mm socket.....you get the picture.

First thing I did was remove cheap fmic piping and set aside.
I used flexible hose clamp pliers to get the clamp to release on the upper hose of the two. Fed the line from under the ps pump pulley and over to the clamp. I went under the car to move and loosen the hose(done deal).
The upper clamp was I used the same tool but was able to get from above.

3 bolts hold the thermostat into place. One of the pictures is from below and you can see the upper right and lower right bolts. The upper left and upper right bolt you can get from above. It is easy to see the lower bolt from obviously from the bottom. I was able to put the socket and extension on the lower bolt and hang it on it. Ratchet from above for removal. The other two just move your head from side to side to see the two upper. Remove thermostat. Remove gasket if it stayed on the block. Clean surface best you can. I cut a sponge in thirds and used the scratchy side to clean gasket area. Little bit of a pain but was easiest done from underneath for me.Get on the ground and move it around until it drops out(it's pretty quick and easy). Throw the new one in from underneath. Twist the thermostat around into the semi correct position from above.
I put a bolt on the socket and put it threw the thermostat and partially thread it into the block(or whatever). partially thread the rest and tighten down as seen fit.

I did reinstall as revers from removal. Nothing special. Fill coolant, squeeze upper hose to get a couple extra bubbles out before running the car. Turn defroster on high fan and temp. Go for a short drive and wait for the defroster temperature to change from cool to warm to hot. When your home check level, if the upper hose is hot then the thermostat opened and worked. I swapped the temp sensor also just for the hell of it.

All done....Drink some more beer and relax.

( I think it got this all done without forgetting anything. I am tired as I work on cars all day as is already and am tired. Any questions ask.)

 

@JohnnyTightlips

 

@JohnnyTightlips show yourself

 

@JohnnyTightlips is busy.

crapatalk it sucks for free

 

I literally did this 2 days ago, it was dumb but not that hard. Worst part is coolant everywhere no matter what you do. I did use cable ties to hold the belt up so I did not have to re-route it again. And with the duralast tensioner it was way easier, 1 man job. I filled mine to full and drove around the next "50 miles or so" and added more coolant when I got home. I was able to get asian formula coolant at walmart for 12$ a gallon.

 

I need to do one on mine soon (intermittently not opening fully). My plan is to not bother draining anything, just pull the hoses and tstat off and let whatever comes out come out.

Awesome write-up @Orangatang. Definitely doing it this way to avoid messing with the PS pump.

 

I don't think I would have gotten the hoses off without tons of swearing, removing the pump was really easy. Good on you for doing it your way though. Even after dumping the radiator a lot of coolant came out of the big hose on the thermostat.

 

Once the clamps are off the hoses all I did is grab the hoses and manhandled back and forth. Flexing the hoses until a little bit of coolant starts to come out. after that they are pretty easy to get off as the coolant will act some what as a lubricant(silicone) to get the hoses off.

 

Literally just got done doing this. I didn't remove anything other than unclipping the wire harnesses over the thermostat. I have a TMIC so piping wasn't an issue for me.

Quarter inch ratchet with a 3 inch extension and a universal for the bolts and it came right out. The hardest part of the process is the spring clips followed by cleaning up all the coolant and kitty litter on the floor.

 

Yeah it is not to bad. Quarter inch ratchet and extension is the way to go. It's just plastic so it is not torqued to the gods. I bought a drain pan that was on sale for cheap and used that. That's why I like the flexible hose clamp pliers. They always come in handy. I use them at work more than you would think.

 

If I had used flexible hose clamp pliers when doing mine, it would have taken 1 hour instead of 3 hours.

Glad I changed mine out. I would be cruising around at 217-221 before, occasionally dipping to high 190's. Even on the highway, it would just sit at like 217-219 going 70 MPH. Now I rarely see over 200 unless I'm stuck in traffic and don't have the A/C on.