The $15.00 one fails like the rest of them
the 131-158 doesn’t

 

I got the 131-158 for $70 at a dealership. It was $150 market value. I’m in Puerto Rico, guess it’s more expensive here.

 

Did you inspect it to see if it was broken? Did you inspect the temp sensor wires? Is there a P0128 code or just the AC doesn't work and raedout flat lined?

 

I inspected it, seemed fine. AC works but always has. I have the P0128 code again twice. Says I need to replace the thermostat. It is only heating to about 160 but the first day it was at or above 180. Does the position of the thermostat mvake a difference? It fit in nicely with the bar on top positioned about 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock (looking into the hood towards the back of the car).

 

No, the position of the thermostat in the housing makes no difference.

 

It should get up to 180F in less than 5 minutes and stay above 180F. If it does not there re only a couple of things; t-stat stuck open, temp sensor error, air bubble in the coolant.

Usually some random piece of junk gets caught in the t-stat preventing it from closing. That is usually part of the rubber seal that is part of the t-stat, sometimes there is junk floating around in the coolant.

 

Have you burped the cooling system ?

 

Which speaks well for flushing the existing coolant and replacing it when replacing a failed thermostat.

 

I like to remove the T stat housing and upper rad hose and back wash the block and then the rad.

 

I burped it when I changed the thermostat. I will burp again. I have put new coolant in each time I changed the thermostat (2x now).