richard_masa_4200
Junior Member
- Messages
- 195
A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune to see my temp gauge creep past 90. Stay calm I thought, it's probably just the 30+ degree day in sunny Melbourne. As long as I keep moving we should be ok. Oh ****, traffic. Upwards the needle marched. I pulled over and waited for the traffic to disappear and then rushed back home.
So it would seem my thermostat had given up. Would this be an expensive trip to the indie, or could I do it myself? After a bit of research I figured I could do it myself.
I ordered a new thermostat from eBay in the US and it arrived about 10 days later. I also decided to go without coolant (it doesn't get near freezing in Melbourne) and are trying Redline Water Wetter with distilled water. I put the front end on stands and proceeded to get to work.
The thermostat is on RHS bottom of block at the front. It is easier to tackle from underneath. A few pointers.
1. Remove the bottom radiator hose from both ends as it gives better access to the thermostat.
2. Remove the top hose from the radiator, but leave it connected to the thermostat, it's easier to remove it as one piece.
3. When fitting the new thermostat attach the top radiator hose to the thermostat housing and fit as 1 unit.
4. Flush the radiator well before putting it all back together.
5. It would help if you had the hands of a Japanese schoolgirl. However, I have the hands of a rugby player and I still managed ok.
I filled her with the new water mix and let her get up to temperature. Yay, sitting just under 90. As it should.
I took her for a spin down the Great Ocean Road on the weekend and she is back to her normal cool self. Definitely a job you can tackle yourself if you are kindly mechanical.
Rich.
So it would seem my thermostat had given up. Would this be an expensive trip to the indie, or could I do it myself? After a bit of research I figured I could do it myself.
I ordered a new thermostat from eBay in the US and it arrived about 10 days later. I also decided to go without coolant (it doesn't get near freezing in Melbourne) and are trying Redline Water Wetter with distilled water. I put the front end on stands and proceeded to get to work.
The thermostat is on RHS bottom of block at the front. It is easier to tackle from underneath. A few pointers.
1. Remove the bottom radiator hose from both ends as it gives better access to the thermostat.
2. Remove the top hose from the radiator, but leave it connected to the thermostat, it's easier to remove it as one piece.
3. When fitting the new thermostat attach the top radiator hose to the thermostat housing and fit as 1 unit.
4. Flush the radiator well before putting it all back together.
5. It would help if you had the hands of a Japanese schoolgirl. However, I have the hands of a rugby player and I still managed ok.
I filled her with the new water mix and let her get up to temperature. Yay, sitting just under 90. As it should.
I took her for a spin down the Great Ocean Road on the weekend and she is back to her normal cool self. Definitely a job you can tackle yourself if you are kindly mechanical.
Rich.
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