Thermostat location and replacement?

Tiny
CRYSTALGOLEM420
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM
1996 Pontiac Grand Am SE 2.4L Quad 4: Im trying to find the location of the thermostat. Ive gotten a "bible" for the car but I covers a lot of different make and models of cars and so I got confused on the location. Also whats the proceedure on changing it?
Sunday, May 28th, 2006 AT 8:02 PM

22 Replies

Tiny
SDALTON19
  • MECHANIC
  • 87 POSTS
Here is a guide to help you step by step with instructions in the diagrams below to show you how on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 AT 9:43 PM
Tiny
MUDDUCK2
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 225,000 MILES
How do I change the thermostat on a 1995 pontiac grandam
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:29 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
REMOVAL
1. Negative battery cable.
2. Drain and recover the coolant.
3. Air clearer assembly.
4. Surge tank line from coolant outlet.
5. Coolant outlet to inlet manifold attaching bolts.
6. Coolant outlet.
7. Thermostat.

Clean
*Inlet manifold mating surfaces.
*Coolant outlet mating surfaces.

INSTALLATION
1. Thermostat in inlet manifold.
2. Coolant outlet to inlet manifold.
3. Attaching bolts.

Tighten
*Tighten to 25 Nm (18 ft. Lbs.).

4. Air cleaner assembly.
5. Surge tank line to coolant outlet.
6. Engine coolant.
7. Negative battery cable.

Inspect
*Check for leaks.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DENNISCOWE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM
Engine Cooling problem
1995 Pontiac Grand Am 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

where is the thermostat located
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
See diagram below:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_t_10.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/kpages/auto_repair_manuals_alldata.htm
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BUBBINATORX2000
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 156,000 MILES
I have a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am SE with a 2.3L DOHC. I have been having problem with it occasionally overheating and want to replace the thermostat. I have checked several websites as to the wereabouts of the thermostat with no success! One website says that I have to remove the waterpump and another said to remove the exhaust manifold! I am totally frustrated and need to fix this problem. I have the mechanical capabilities to do it myself but I need the answer to this question. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Here's how and where...


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_TStat4cyl_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_TStat4cylb_1.jpg

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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BUCKWHEATSHONEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 PONTIAC GRAND AM
Heater problem
1995 Pontiac Grand Am V6 Front Wheel Drive Automatic 130000 miles

I am wondering if you can help me. I just recently started having problems with my car. My car over heats very quickly, and I have no heat in my car. Right now it is -26 and with in 2-3 minutes of driving, my car is overheated (in the red) What could the problem be, and how do I fix this. My husband thinks it could be the thermostat, but we are not sure
Can you please help me?
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Is the radiator boiling over? Or just the gauge in the rsd? Could be a defective sending unit. Thermostat could be bad if it boils over, loosing coolant. If you have a leak is it going in the red whithout loosing antifreeze? Are the cooling fan(s) on when it 's in the red? Until we solve this, DO NOT drive the car, a warped head or blown head gasket will cost a lot more than anything I have mentioned so far.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
If there's no white smoke coming out of the tail pipe after the engine comes up to normal operating temperature. I suggest you test the thermostat its purpose to control engine temperature, if its sticking closed it will prevent coolant from circulating thru out the engine. This will cause the engine to overheat in a few minutes.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Generally I agree, but in subzero weather make sure the cooling fan works too.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GOLDTOOF
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 158,000 MILES
How hard is it to replace the thermostat and thermostat housing on a 1994 pontiac grand am se/gt? Also if undertaking this job are there any specialty tools I will need or is there any unexpected problems that may arise that I should know about? I'm fairly good with cars but i've never done this its for a friends car and i've seen mixed things about how easy or hard it is and that special tools aren't or are needed. The repair shop wants 390 for labor but the parts are both under 20 bucks.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Thermo needs no special tools just drain coolant remove air cleaner and surge tank hose.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/198357_Graphic_447.jpg


as for the $390 labor need to report to BBB it's a $90 job
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DEBRA VANMETER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 18,500 MILES
Where is the thermostat located on a 3.3 liter V6?
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
Follow the radiators, top hose, to the engine where its connected, is the thermostat housing. The thermostat is under the housing. This is for just about everything except a 3.8 l Turbo
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUNSQWICKBABE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 164,841 MILES
I just had a new thermostat put in, I drove it for about 3 minutes and my temp gauge shot up into the red, I took it back and they said they couldnt find a problem. What should I do. Is it safe to drive?
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Its not safe to drive on an over heated engine at all
serious engine damage will occur
if you had no problem with it over heating before the job was done then I would say let them make sure its full of coolant and no air trapped in the system
good luck
let me know
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUNSQWICKBABE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I did not have this problem before they put in the thermostat.I have taken it back to them, they said just "keep an eye" on it.I just took it for a drive and my coolant light was on.I drove for a bit my temp gauge went up and I lost heat but my coolant light went out. It went back down to normal after a few minutes more then I had heat but then my coolant light went back on. Could it be air locked. They claim its fine but.I think they are wrong. Lol
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Its so wrong you shouldnt drive it if its overheating.
Air bubbles more or less is the problem. I would have them bleed the system. Good luck let me know!
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUNSQWICKBABE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I was just reading up on this.I have to work and I need my car very soon, I read this. Run it with the radiator cap off. Turn on the heater to make sure water flows through the heater core. As the engine heats up, the water level will drop if there is still air in the system. Keep adding water until it gets hot. Put the radiator cap back on. If it starts to boil, turn off the engine. Let things cool down. Then put the radiator cap back on
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 11:31 AM (Merged)

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