Ask and you shall receive...

the t-stat is buried under the nest of wires here...the smaller arrows are the coolant hose...

the t-stat is at the tip of the arrow...probably 12 inches towards the ground

 

OK, if I am reading everything correctly, your thermostat appears to be in the same location as the 2.2 and 2.4. Although ours may be a little closer to the ground and almost under the firewall.

Maybe looking up part numbers for the hoses and thermostat and comparing diagrams would help.

 

I want to thank everyone for the replies. Yes, it was a last minute post. I wanted to see if we should take a different vehicle on our Christmas trip. After reading the first few replies I made the decision to go ahead and take our HHR.

"My question to the OP. Did you ever resolve the original issues? If not, then why the need to do something now at a moments notice?"

FireMango- yes, I did resolve the past issue in that I bought and replaced the "stator"? which controls the heat/AC fan.
Obviously, this is not a new issue for me. The car will eventually reach 180 when driven on highway for long distance. I am still undecided as to when I will replace the thermostat. I am just picking brains for now and getting the full scope of the task.
I am a little uneasy about the burping process. Is there a simple way to burp the coolant system?

 

Everything you need to know about replacing the thermostat, and burping the system is right here - (first post) - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/how-save-%24350-00-thermostat-replacement-2-4l-p0128-24493/

 

[QUOTE=06chevyHHR;730503]

"FireMango- yes, I did resolve the past issue in that I bought and replaced the "stator"? which controls the heat/AC fan.
Obviously, this is not a new issue for me. The car will eventually reach 180 when driven on highway for long distance. "

First off, the name is FIREMANGEORGE.
Not sure how you got my name turned into firemango---

Obviously you didn't understand me when I quoted your earlier thread. The "resolve" I was talking about was your engine being slow to heat up. I even highlighted that part in red letters. This new thread was about the same problem. That's why I posted up your old one.

Replacing the fan resistor is not what we're discussing here.(although it's good you were able to have that fixed)

 

Now I know why I am confused?

The t-stat job is TWO bolts, absolutely no complicated logistics. Just figuring out how to get your tools and hands into tight spaces.

 

Bought the Stant thermostat at Advance Auto Parts today. It should work ok right?

 

Yes it should work just fine however I have read about some people using aftermarket thermostats the having to replace them every year until finally installing a factory one.
I myself have used aftermarket thermostats for years with out problems.
With that said the newer computer controlled vehicles seem to be sensitive to warm up times. I would probably flip the few extra bucks for the factory one.

 

Factory GM or AC Delco T-stat seems to be the only way to go, just like AC Delco 103 Iridium spark plugs they work the best and last the longest for these HHR's

 

I think the new design factory ones don't have the troublesome rubber inner gasket, just a metal to metal seal. I don't know why you would need a tight seal in that particular place.