Thermostat Replacement
01-21-2003, 09:08 PM
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Burning Brakes
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Thermostat Replacement
It looks like I will be replacing my thermostat soon, and I have been reading alot of past posts about the snap ring, and I was wondering if this was something I should just take my car to a mechanic for. How many hours do you think they would charge for a t-stat replacement. I'd like to do all my work my self, but is this somehting that is worth it to pay for?
Thanks,
Conor
Thanks,
Conor
01-21-2003, 10:48 PM
#2
Instructor
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just got done taking mine out tonight, not to replace it , im replacing my head. If you have the right tools ex- c-clip pliers its a bit of a pain, whithout the tools its probably impossible.
01-21-2003, 10:53 PM
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Burning Brakes
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I've read the plethora of posts on the subject. If I do it myself I'm going to try that GM tool and 45 or 90 degree needle nose pliers. Any other recommendations for tools/where to buy them.
Conor
Conor
01-21-2003, 10:57 PM
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Burning Brakes
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Modify a pair of needle nose pliers, 90 degree ones. File a groove just a little back from the tips of the jaws to help the pliers grip the snap ring. Then just hope that the person who installed the water pump was thinking far enough ahead when he put the snap ring in. Good luck Mark T.
01-22-2003, 12:58 AM
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Conor,
This won't be definitive but I see it this way:
1) if you do the work yourself you learn about your car and this is valuable knowledge. Also, you save money. I would agree with MHT's recommendation---I went to a "cheapo" tool place, bought a pair of 12" curved nose pliers, ground down the tips, etc. Then you have to drain the radiator fluid, get the hose and clamps off, get the car up in the air somehow, and work at it until you get it done.
2) if you pay somebody else, it costs money, but you don't have the grief and time involved in the project (there will be plenty of both). So you have to evaluate whether you have all the tools you need and the personality (patience and persistence) to work through this.
My 2 cents worth: The snap ring has to be about the worst thing I had to do on my car in the category of routine maintenance. Frankly its a real bitch. Therefore, unless I was absolutely determined to "do my own work" and money wasn't a real big issue, I'd probably farm this one out and save my time for another project.
Curtis
This won't be definitive but I see it this way:
1) if you do the work yourself you learn about your car and this is valuable knowledge. Also, you save money. I would agree with MHT's recommendation---I went to a "cheapo" tool place, bought a pair of 12" curved nose pliers, ground down the tips, etc. Then you have to drain the radiator fluid, get the hose and clamps off, get the car up in the air somehow, and work at it until you get it done.
2) if you pay somebody else, it costs money, but you don't have the grief and time involved in the project (there will be plenty of both). So you have to evaluate whether you have all the tools you need and the personality (patience and persistence) to work through this.
My 2 cents worth: The snap ring has to be about the worst thing I had to do on my car in the category of routine maintenance. Frankly its a real bitch. Therefore, unless I was absolutely determined to "do my own work" and money wasn't a real big issue, I'd probably farm this one out and save my time for another project.
Curtis
