Replace your own Thermostat
Car repair is a skill set that I have never acquired. My failure to acquire these skills, helped me develop a healthy fear of car repair. However, in the current economy, the savings that repairing your own vehicle represents is hard to ignore. In this article, I will walk you through how to replace your car's thermostat, appealing to the car repair novice.
The first thing I would suggest is a a visit your local auto parts store, on a quest to acquire parts and strategy. Most part stores have a very heavy emphasis on customer service. They appeal to the do-it-yourself types, and even offer free loaner tools to get the job done right.
When you get there, let them know that you need to replace your thermostat. You can save yourself some time here, by knowing in advance the answers to the questions that you will be asked. You will need to provide the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
There may also be some performance options that are available on your model car, so consult your owners manual for the precise information about your car. Don't be concerned if you cant locate the information, as a store representative can determine what they will need to help you with a quick look at your car.
Having the store associate look at your engine is not altogether a bad idea as a general rule. They are trained and experienced, and may be able to spot other problems the the untrained eye might miss. Worn belts and hoses are examples of items that if caught in advance, present very little disruption in your life. When compared to a broken belt or ruptured hose, well, you get the picture.
Your goal is to leave the store with all the parts, tools, and information you need to complete the job. Once you get home, I advise going online to look for a little more guidance or step by step instructions. I have found YouTube to be very helpful in this regard. Simply go to Youtube.com and enter "replace Ford Focus thermostat" and peruse the results.
Depending on the popularity of your vehicle, there may even be websites dedicated to the repair or modification of your model. I just used a Ford Focus as an example, as I actually own one. I discovered a website about performing modifications, upgrades, and common repairs. Visit Google or your favorite search engine to see what sites are out there for your car.
When you are ready, make sure you are comfortable with what you are about to attempt. Make sure that your car has been sitting for several hours, so that the engine and coolant are no longer too hot to work with. Remove your radiator hose by loosening the clamp that connects it to your thermostat housing or engine block. Make sure that you have a way to collect the coolant that spills out. When the hose is removed, coolant will pour out of the hose. If you are careful to make sure that you cleanly catch all the coolant, you can reuse the coolant once you put your car back together.
Remove the old thermostat and the gasket that allows it to seal tightly. You will want to clean out the area that the old thermostat just occupied, as there may be some debris or worn gasket parts there. Use a screwdriver, or a wire brush if you have one. Once clean, you can insert the new gasket and thermostat, making sure to line it up properly.
When you replace your hose make sure to seat it snugly back in place. Always err on the side of caution because a coolant leak can be at best a nuisance, and at worst, catastrophic. With your hose back in place you can put coolant back in your car. Follow your cars owners manual on replacing your engine's coolant, as you want to make sure that you put enough back into the car to allow proper function.
To test your work, start the engine and turn your heat and temperature on maximum. This will accelerate the process of coolant being drawn into the engine block, and allow you to see if a leak exists. Once you are certain that there are no leaks present, you should be good to get back on the road. I suggest making a trip back to the auto parts store, and asking them to pressure test your system. This is a sure way to verify the integrity of your work.
So if your car needs a new thermostat, you have an opportunity to face your repair fears with a job that is fairly simple for a beginner. Take your time and do the job right, and who knows. Perhaps the next time you car needs work you will be less afraid to tackle the job yourself. With the money you save, you can treat yourself to some fuzzy dice and some pine tree air fresheners!
