oldracer

About 4 months ago the coolant temp would flat line but if I went over a bump it would come back? Some times I would have to hook up the Auto Enginuity software and clear out the codes for temp too low and all would be fine for a week or two. So finally this week it started happening more and more and I decided to do a thermostat and sensor replacement at the same time and the whole job took about an hour for both. I got the parts at my local NAPA and cost was about $44 including a jug of the correct coolant. I found a large 1/2 inch drive impact socket and used a long breaker bar that just happened to stick up and required only a couple fingers pressure to break the sensor loose and the same to put the new one in!

I was happy that the hardest item to break loose was the sensor as I am just getting over heart bypass surgery (5/20) so I can't do a lot of stress on my chest muscles just yet but after I finished I felt a million percent better than I would have a year ago!

whopper

Good for you oldracer. Sounds like you know when to pace yourself - and that's a good thing.

Hey, a couple questions:

- what shape was the old thermostat rubber gasket look like (if it had one)?
- did the new thermostat have a rubber gasket on the movable valve in the center?

oldracer

The old thermostat has a rubber seal in the center and it was deteriorated fairly bad. The new one had a smaller seal and looked to be a different material? The outer edge seals looked to be about the same material and size. I'll do a test drive this evening to let things get fully heated up but so far no leaks.

whopper

Looks like you caught it just in time with it deteriorating like that. Keep in mind that GM has changed to a non-rubber seal thermostat a while back according to some members reports. Thanks for getting back. have a good one. :)

donbrew

At least the OEM on my 2011 had no center rubber, only the main gasket was rubber.
I get an employee discount at NAPA I think I would have paid more! What's the secret?