My Thermostat Ordeal

lucien2 · 06-22-2003, 07:29 PM

Well another typical day when Lucien touches a wrench

Bought some ramps, got em home, put 'em together.....car is too low with the v5/H&Rs. Back to get the extensions......still too low.

Ok, so then we got some wood for the front tires to "step" up on, and that solved it. Ok great, 90 minutes in and we finally can start working on the actual thermostat!

Dropped the thermostat housing, no prob. Got a little messy, but no biggie.
pulled the old thermostat, no prob.
put the new one in with the new gasket...easy.
Put the housing on, tightened, the 1st bolt. threaded the second bolt. Tightened it as well. Aw heck, one more turn for good mea....SNAP!! Ugh. sheared off right at the block. Tried to drill it out, no luck, other than probably wrecking the threads in there. Put the old thermostat back in, dumped in as much water as I could and made a run for my mechanic shop a mile away, where she now sits awaiting the dawn of Monday morning. I just hope the original threading can be salvaged trying to get that bloody bolt out.

Nice, simple shade-tree kinda job

KONKILR · 06-22-2003, 08:40 PM

Well at the worst you may have to have the water pump replaced (thats where those bolts thread into). You may have been able to actually remove the remains of the bolt by turning it with pliers or a punch and hammer. Once the bolt is broken there is no longer any tension on the threads (provided the threads didn't strip). They probably can save the threads. It's only aluminum. You should have called me after this happened.

jake

lucien2 · 06-22-2003, 08:55 PM

I suppose....I really didn't want to trouble you on a sunday afternoon, Jake. Thanks for the advice though. The sucker was really in there...I worked at it with pliers and with a nail, to no avail. I guess at 63K a new water pump isn't toooo bad...

KONKILR · 06-22-2003, 09:17 PM

If they do end up replacing your water pump, then it would be a good idea to get the timing belt done at the same time. I don't remember the interval for your vehicle, but it never hurts to do it early.

jake

Dealer Xing · 06-23-2003, 08:23 AM

When they get to the timing belt, you may want to replace the oil seals, tensioners, etc......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

biggreen96 · 06-23-2003, 12:31 PM

I just did this myself(replace water pump), wasnt as big a deal as I thought it was going to be. Only tricky part was putting the timing belt back on since I didnt have the tools that keep the spring loaded drivers side cams from springing around, just gota move em back and try not to bump them again.

lucien2 · 06-24-2003, 10:24 AM

It's in the shop's hands at this point. I don't have any time to work on it until Sunday, and I need my car back before then

We'll see how it goes.

06-22-2003, 07:29 PM	#1
lucien2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 1519 Join Date: May 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Baltimore, hon! Vehicle: 1998 Volvo V70R Silver	My Thermostat Ordeal Well another typical day when Lucien touches a wrench Bought some ramps, got em home, put 'em together.....car is too low with the v5/H&Rs. Back to get the extensions......still too low. Ok, so then we got some wood for the front tires to "step" up on, and that solved it. Ok great, 90 minutes in and we finally can start working on the actual thermostat! Dropped the thermostat housing, no prob. Got a little messy, but no biggie. pulled the old thermostat, no prob. put the new one in with the new gasket...easy. Put the housing on, tightened, the 1st bolt. threaded the second bolt. Tightened it as well. Aw heck, one more turn for good mea....SNAP!! Ugh. sheared off right at the block. Tried to drill it out, no luck, other than probably wrecking the threads in there. Put the old thermostat back in, dumped in as much water as I could and made a run for my mechanic shop a mile away, where she now sits awaiting the dawn of Monday morning. I just hope the original threading can be salvaged trying to get that bloody bolt out. Nice, simple shade-tree kinda job

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06-22-2003, 08:40 PM	#2
KONKILR Scooby Specialist Member#: 3190 Join Date: Dec 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Flintstone,md. Vehicle: 2000 Impreza RS and the Suxass racing mobile!	Well at the worst you may have to have the water pump replaced (thats where those bolts thread into). You may have been able to actually remove the remains of the bolt by turning it with pliers or a punch and hammer. Once the bolt is broken there is no longer any tension on the threads (provided the threads didn't strip). They probably can save the threads. It's only aluminum. You should have called me after this happened. jake

06-22-2003, 08:55 PM	#3
lucien2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 1519 Join Date: May 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Baltimore, hon! Vehicle: 1998 Volvo V70R Silver	I suppose....I really didn't want to trouble you on a sunday afternoon, Jake. Thanks for the advice though. The sucker was really in there...I worked at it with pliers and with a nail, to no avail. I guess at 63K a new water pump isn't toooo bad...

06-22-2003, 09:17 PM	#4
KONKILR Scooby Specialist Member#: 3190 Join Date: Dec 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Flintstone,md. Vehicle: 2000 Impreza RS and the Suxass racing mobile!	If they do end up replacing your water pump, then it would be a good idea to get the timing belt done at the same time. I don't remember the interval for your vehicle, but it never hurts to do it early. jake

06-23-2003, 08:23 AM	#5
Dealer Xing Scooby Specialist Member#: 4673 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NY/NJ	When they get to the timing belt, you may want to replace the oil seals, tensioners, etc......$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

06-23-2003, 12:31 PM	#6
biggreen96 Scooby Specialist Member#: 12535 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Idaho slash Washington Vehicle: vf39 93 Legacy Wagon 92 Legacy Rally EG33'd	I just did this myself(replace water pump), wasnt as big a deal as I thought it was going to be. Only tricky part was putting the timing belt back on since I didnt have the tools that keep the spring loaded drivers side cams from springing around, just gota move em back and try not to bump them again.

06-24-2003, 10:24 AM	#7
lucien2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 1519 Join Date: May 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Baltimore, hon! Vehicle: 1998 Volvo V70R Silver	It's in the shop's hands at this point. I don't have any time to work on it until Sunday, and I need my car back before then We'll see how it goes.