Need help with thermostat removal....

[jimdigs]

I have a 93 festiva. The problem I'm having is getting at the bottom bolt on the housing. There is a tube thingy in the way and I just cannot get anything on the bolt. Any help will be appreciated, thanks. I tried to remove a bolt that is on a hold down at one part of the tube thingy, the thing was so rusty that the bolt broke right off and the hold down thing being loose did not help one bit.

[nitrofarm]

I have a 93 festiva. The problem I'm having is getting at the bottom bolt on the housing. There is a tube thingy in the way and I just cannot get anything on the bolt. Any help will be appreciated, thanks. I tried to remove a bolt that is on a hold down at one part of the tube thingy, the thing was so rusty that the bolt broke right off and the hold down thing being loose did not help one bit.

12mm "Gear Wrench" from any local hardware store. You can get them in "Off Set" or straight.

[jimdigs]

Thanks, I have wobble extensions and knuckles but I just couldn't get the socket on the darn thing. I have a regular 12mm open end wrench but I believe I do need the off set "gear wrench" that you mention.

[nitrofarm]

Thanks, I have wobble extensions and knuckles but I just couldn't get the socket on the darn thing. I have a regular 12mm open end wrench but I believe I do need the off set "gear wrench" that you mention.

FYI put a tiny "Dab" of silicone or grease,Vaseline etc anything to keep the new thermostat in place while installing. It hasn't happened to me but many people report cracking the housing because the thermostat shifted and they didn't realize it. Then they torqued the two bolts and CRACK. :thumbs_down:

[iriegnome]

I just kind of muscled it out of the way. It moves enough to be able to get that in there. I have a 1992 that I just went through the t-stat

[jimdigs]

I just kind of muscled it out of the way. It moves enough to be able to get that in there. I have a 1992 that I just went through the t-stat

I guess I'm just a weenie. Do you remember if you went over or under the tube thingy?

[crazyrog17]

If you follow the metal coolant bypass tube toward the firewall, you'll find a small clamp on a bracket held down by a 10mm nut. If you loosen or remove it, that should give you a bit more clearance to the bottom bolt.

[eurotiva]

If you follow it towards the front, it's attached to the far right exhaust manifold bolt.

Undoing it there will allow some more movement.

There's a small bracket that is welded to the water pipe. Kinda goes up under the heat shield

[getnpsi]

I use long extentions. I too was a thermocracker noob. So ive taken off and installed these numerous times and gained nothing but a running car.

[jimdigs]

I use long extentions. I too was a thermocracker noob. So ive taken off and installed these numerous times and gained nothing but a running car.

So install the 2 stage stat didn't improve your heat in the festiva? Is that what your saying?

[jimdigs]

If you follow the metal coolant bypass tube toward the firewall, you'll find a small clamp on a bracket held down by a 10mm nut. If you loosen or remove it, that should give you a bit more clearance to the bottom bolt.

That is the nut I tried loosening and the thing broke in half.

[crazyrog17]

Darn rusty nuts... Shouldn't hurt if you can just zip tie the bypass tube to the bracket.

[getnpsi]

No, I bought this car off craigslist almost sight unseen. I always replace a thermostat on cars I buy with unknown history, when doing this I broke the thermostat housing. So I had to remove and replace it multiple times, gaining no experience or bragging rights. It took me two days to get right back where I was, in other words. If your airflow is good a single stage therm works ok.

[getnpsi]

no I bought this car off craigslist almost sight unseen and I always replace a thermostat on cars I buy with unknown history when doing this I broke the thermostat housing so I had to remove and replace it multiple times, gaining no experience or bragging rights. It took me two days to get right back where i wss in other words. If your airflow is good a single stage gherm works ok