themostat

[notamechanic27]

hello im new to this board. I have a 1999 pontiac grand am with th 3.4 liter v6 with an auto trans. im in the process of changing the thermostat i loosened the bottom bolt a few turns and removed the top bolt now i cant get the thermostat housing to come out is there any special i need to turn it to get it out.

[xeroinfinity]

welcome notamechanic27. The bottom bolt needs to be turned several turns, it wouldnt hurt to remove it all the way though. I know not much room at all. Loosen the coolant reservoir tank line on the thermostat housing, it helps to remove the top rad hose. And the air duct on the Throttle body.
Tilt the top of the thermostat housing out while pulling the bottom up, its tricky. remember how it came out so when you put the new one back in. THe rubber gasket goes on around the thermostat, the spring goes into the engine.

[BNaylor]

Other than needing midget size hands, it's a PITA. After removing the complete air intake duct/hose from the air cleaner to the throttle body with MAF sensor intact, we removed the complete heater core return line (black metal line) and the two small hoses that go to the throttle body. That gave enough clearance to remove that exhaust crossover pipe heat shield which obviously is in the way. Total of 4 10mm bolts, two on each each. With the heat shield off that should give just enough room to remove the thermostat housing inlet. Some get lucky and remove it without doing the above but the job does take patience.

[xeroinfinity]

removing the heat sheild is pita. You can change the thermostat with out removing it. Those little bolts are usually rustd on good. The thermostat job should take 1hr or less, that is if you hav the right stubby 13mm wrench(s).
I usually dont ever remove the air duct or the coolant lines from the throttlebody, just loosen the black recurculator tube on the front of the engine(by the spark plugs in front of the motor) and on the water pump. You dont hav to remove them just loosen them to get so more room. I hav large hands that dont fit in there well at all..