How to Locate a Car Thermostat

A bad thermostat will cause your car to overheat.

The thermostat is the brain of the coolant system of your car. It senses when the car is starting to get hot and opens up to allow coolant to flow through the motor to cool the motor down. The coolant travels through the motor and is pushed through the radiator by the water pump. The radiator is used to pull the heat from the coolant. A faulty thermostat will cause the car to overheat. Locating the thermostat just requires locating the top radiator hose.

Things You'll Need

• Flathead screwdriver
• Socket set
• Socket wrench

Instructions

1. Open the hood to access the engine compartment. Locate the radiator in front of the motor.

2. Locate the hose attached to the top of the radiator. The hose will be routed to the front of the motor.

3. Un-clamp the hose with a screwdriver at the motor end. Loosen the screws until the clamp can move freely up and down the hose.

4. Lift the hose off the pipe with your fingers. This will expose the thermostat housing.

5. Unbolt the top of the housing with a socket wrench. Pull the cover off with your fingers. The thermostat lays inside the housing. Pull it out with your fingers.

Tips & Warnings

• In most automobiles it is necessary to remove the radiator hose to access the thermostat housing.

• Use caution when working around the motor. Allow the car to cool down before working on the motor. Failure to do so will result in burns.

References

• Autozone: Thermostat Replacement
• Automedia: Locating and Replacing the Thermostat