Cannot get my thermostat out.

ALEXN1018

MEMBER
1997 GMC JIMMY
167,000 MILES

My car has only been reaching about 150F when I drive regardless of stop and go or long highway temp. As my thermostat is supposed to be for 195F I suspect it may be opening early or stuck open. Last week I tore everything down and got to the thermostat but I couldn't remove it. I'm not sure if its just stuck in there with 15 years of grime or if I'm missing something but I was looking for any tips or tricks to removing the darn thing.

4 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Can you use a small pipe-wrench or vice grips to try to rotate the thermostat? Is there a small coolant hose close to thermostat, if so, remove the hose, see if it helps? I don't know if drilling a small hole all the way through the thermostat would help? You may get some metal filings in your cooling system. You may have to take it out of there, one piece at a time. Try tapping on the thermostat with hammer and chisel, don't damage the thermostat housing.

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Sunday, November 27th, 2011 AT 6:58 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

IS THIS WHAT YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Thermostat/1997-GMC-Jimmy-2WD/_/N-j97h9Z8gctr?counter=0&filterByKeyWord=THERMOSTAT&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=615450_52254_1644_93207

HAD TO ASK THAT QUESTION.....SOME QUESTION ASKERS MIGHT BE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE AN INTAKE VALVE OR SOMETHING ELSE, NO WHERE CLOSE TO THE THERMOSTAT!......JUST HAD TO ASK!

THIS SHOULD NOT BE A HARD THING TO DO......JAMMING A SCREWDRIVER THRU THE "PORT"---"DOOR"---CENTER AND PRYING SIDEWAYS SHOULD GET IT.....GONNA THROW IT AWAY ANYWAY!

PERSONALLY, I HAVE NEVER COME ACROSS ONE HARD TO REMOVE.

KEEP US INFORMED

THE MEDIC

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Sunday, November 27th, 2011 AT 7:49 PM

ALEXN1018

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I'm definitely at the right part. I've done them on other cars before and there's usually no problem removing them. I twisted on the top of it with pliers and it wouldn't budge. I'm reluctant to drill it out because metal shavings in the coolant sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. This whole thing is so odd.

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Sunday, November 27th, 2011 AT 8:36 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,004 POSTS

HOW ABOUT MR. PROPANE TORCH?

SORTA HEAT IT UP GOOD (PROVIDED THERE AIN'T NO PLASTIC STUFF REAL CLOSE)

SOON AS IT'S REALLY GOOD AND HOT

QUICKLY QUENCH IT W/ A SOAKING WET RAG

THIS MAY SORTA "SHOCK" IT LOOSE!

MAYBE TRY A SHARP(ENED) SMALL FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER TO PRY THE EDGES UP

OTHER THAN EVERYTHING ELSE PUT ON YOU (MECHANICAL REMOVAL)---I'M SPENT

PLEASE DO LET US KNOW WHAT PART OF IT WAS STICKING WHEN YOU GET IT OUT

SORRY ABOUT THE "WHAT IF THING"---IF YOU COULD JUST READ SOME OF THE STUFF THAT COMES THRU HERE!

THE MEDIC

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Sunday, November 27th, 2011 AT 11:28 PM