Help! Changing thermotat

[kiet88]

Hi guys,

im chaning my thermostat now on my dc4 and the housing wont come off.

i have unplug the sensor and ground wire... and taking out the bolts from the top and bottom.

Am i missing something?

http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1318/23082008127gs8.th.jpg (http://img370.imageshack.us/my.php?image=23082008127gs8.jpg)

Cheers

[DLO01]

You have done what you are supposed to do, so its all good.

Its stuck on with sealant, so its gonna need some persuation. Try and use a screw driver and prise it off. Make sure you don't damage the two facing surfaces. You'll find when you finally break the seal it will come off easy.

[kiet88]

ok. got it

damni should have flush my coolant first... lost quiet a lot.. hopefully my 1 litre bottle will be enough to refill

cheers

[DLO01]

ok. got it

damni should have flush my coolant first... lost quiet a lot.. hopefully my 1 litre bottle will be enough to refill

cheers

Doh, it would have been a good idea. Even if you would have drained it half way would help.

You can re-use the coolant too if its not old. Just drain it through a clean rag from bucket to bucket and all good.

[kiet88]

done.. i just got to reconnect everything now..

i was coolant comeing out anf thought oh well shouldnt be too much.. then gush...

went look for bucket.. didnt fit under car cause it lowered... quickly went to get jack and put bucket underneath.. saved 200ml... hha oh well better than nothing...

i will post up a DIY and hints for next person..

[DLO01]

Thats cool man.

Yeh, its a good idea to drain half way from the drain in the raidator 1st.

[kiet88]

oh no... 1 litre wasnt enough... should i wait till monday and have nothing to drive??? or go buy distilled water and chuck it in?

[DLO01]

You've gota make sure the system is full of coolant. Don't drive it if its not full.

If you have distilled water you can put that in to get around. But make sure you get your proper coolant mixture soon or your system will corrode.

[kiet88]

if i put distilled water in... when i buy the honda coolant on monday will i have to re-flush my radiator?

[DLO01]

Honda coolant is a premix. If you put water in, you'll need to drain the whole system and refill it with the premix.

[kiet88]

oh well.. i guess no driving for me this weekend then..

[kiet88]

yay.. my temperature guag is back to about 40% woo hoo..

ended up having to top up about 3L of coolant - what a wasteof coolant and $$$

[DLO01]

Cool man. Good stuff. :thumbsup:

[bennjamin]

since your DIY session sounded like a effort - can you do ONE more thing for your cars safety and longevity....do this word for word.

Get some premixed coolant ready to top up..

1. jump in your car , slide the temp. to HOT (on dash or climate control)
2. open bonnet , jump out and remove the radiator cap.
3. turn on car and let it idle for around 15 minutes , until the thermostat+ thermo fan comes on. You can see/hear this happen on the radiator.
4.as this occurs , air bubbles will rise out of the top of the radiator - top up the coolant as the level drops.
5. wait until the thermo fan engages again (in a minute or so) and top up the fluid again.
6.turn off car , let it cool then reinstall the radiator cap.
Thats it. You have burped most if not all excess air bubbles from your system and it should be 100% working without a hitch

[DLO01]

6.turn off car , let it cool then reinstall the radiator cap.

By doing that the water has cooled and will have contracted, level would dropped and then you put the cap on. Nice big air pocket in system.

[kiet88]

since your DIY session sounded like a effort - can you do ONE more thing for your cars safety and longevity....do this word for word.

Get some premixed coolant ready to top up..

1. jump in your car , slide the temp. to HOT (on dash or climate control)
2. open bonnet , jump out and remove the radiator cap.
3. turn on car and let it idle for around 15 minutes , until the thermostat+ thermo fan comes on. You can see/hear this happen on the radiator.
4.as this occurs , air bubbles will rise out of the top of the radiator - top up the coolant as the level drops.
5. wait until the thermo fan engages again (in a minute or so) and top up the fluid again.
6.turn off car , let it cool then reinstall the radiator cap.
Thats it. You have burped most if not all excess air bubbles from your system and it should be 100% working without a hitch

yerh i did 1-5 and replace radiator cap straight after, like DLO01.

i already repalced my coolant once so already learnt that skill..

[bennjamin]

By doing that the water has cooled and will have contracted, level would dropped and then you put the cap on. Nice big air pocket in system.

to be anal , correct. I meant from scalding hot to alittle less hot (IE touchable) but you get the idea if you are doing it. Or ofcourse simply top up before you lock down the rad cap

[DLO01]

Yep, cool.

I'm anal, but don't like anal. If ya get me drift!!! :p

[kiet88]

thanks for all your help man.. much appreciated

[JasonGilholme]

oh the joy of diy. good work mate.

[andiiso]

make sure when u bleed the coolant as ben and dl001 says, u dun have the car facing downwards on slope, air will wanna find its way to top, if u have on slope the top will be at back of engine then u wont b bleeding any air out.

On our engines its ok to have car on flat surface .. but to be on safe side just make sure the radiator cap hole is at highest point of engine/car.