I need to replace the thermostat on my 93 GXE. Looks difficult to reach. Can it be reached through the right front wheel well? Any tricks anyone can offer for getting tools and hands down in the space?

 

after draining the coolant, remove the radiator hose thats in the way. to get the angle, u might wanna use a u joint with an extension with a wrench, thats one way of doing it... keep band aids handy for the little cuts you might get cuz of the tight space.

 

You'll also need a long extension like 10" or so and a shorter one like 4" long. It is a P.I.T.A. Hopefully you don't get an airpocket in the cooling system or you'll be without heat like me.

 

http://www.cybrrpartspro.com/Chilton...961CH03_5.html

 

Thanks Paul, Looks like there is no trick to make it easy. I read on another site that the heater core is the high point in the system. That when filling the cooling system you must raise the car so that the front bumper is 39 inches above the floor which will make the top of the radiator be higher than the heater.

 

Yeah, but how to raise the car safely 39 inches. Jackstands will only raise up about a foot.

 

I forgot to mention that the advice was that the "top of the" bumber be at 39 inches above the floor. I have a floor jack with a 19 inch lift. I have not measured how high the top of the bumper is above the floor when the car is on the floor, but I plan to use the jack and not get under the car for anything.

 

Ugh. Just replace the thermostat and open the heator to full hot. Run the car until the thermo opens. The level should go down after a few cycles. If not you can always park the car on a steep hill.

 

when i replaced my thermostat the gasket was really stuck on there hard. i tried hammering the housing of with a hammer but it wouldn't budge. they way i got it off was i started the engine and when it got hot enough the gasket got really brittle and easily came off.

 

yes the level should drop some, if not, let it cool and recheck fluid levels and top off the rad and resovoir