I'm not a mechanic at all and I needed to know how to do this quick so thank you, probably saved me 200 or more. I didn't do it yet so I'll let you know the result
Wow 2years later your video is till helping me out not getting ripped off thank you please continue making videos on cars I just subscribed to your challen
Aftermarket thermostats are prone to not work properly, a friend gave me an advice not to use them but I did anyways. I bought a cheap $29 thermostat from N _ P _ and it was not opening all the way as it should, causing the car to stay at ~200F and the fan will come on very often. After removing the faulty thermostat we tested it in a hot pan, it opened around 194F and only partially (one side will open barely the other side will be still closed.) I replaced the $29 thermostat with an original one from the dealership ($62 in Sep. 2022) and it worked like a charm, the coolant stays in the 180F range all the time (tested at ambient temperatures in September of 2022 at 65F to 80F daytime temperetures).
Exactly what I needed to review you don't need jack stands or a floor jack that's good cuz I know by that little wobbly extensions instead my workday was ruined it but I think this will solve the problem I'll let you know how it goes thank you very much it was I'm going to do a 99 Nissan Maxima
i'm concerned because when i took off the large top hose, it was bone dry inside..wondering if i have a water pump issue, or its it really the thermostat not causing the coolant to flow through
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair yeah the reservoir is full, no signs of leaking. just a few days ago I learned the hard way how long to wait before opening my radiator cap; hot fluid was everywhere 😩 however I can’t ascertain whether or not fluid is getting to the radiator anymore. I’m changing the thermostat because my heat gauge seems to take quite awhile to even budge, and the car stops after around 15 minutes of driving around with the gauge not even in the middle. If I wait a few minutes I can start again and go only a little ways (was close enough to home this morning to just bring it back. Currently trying to get that back thermostat bolt off, lol So far I’ve replaced the radiator fan (which I think may have been the original issue because it works now, but waited too long to fix everything), fuel pump, and now working on the thermostat. Watched another vid on fixing the water pump and if it’s that I may just drop it at the shop.:(
Ok. So trying to help you out here. However I need some more information and to clarify a few things. 1. If the coolant reservoir is full, that’s good however that’s not saying anything about whether or not the actual radiator is full. Big difference there. 2. If you know for certain you don’t have a physical coolant leak (hard to tell if the water pump is leaking since you can’t actually see it and it could be leaking slightly and drying up before it hits the ground) and you are certain the coolant level inside the radiator is good. From what I gather, the car takes a long time to come to temperature? Do you have good heat inside the car at any point? Like the heater set to max hot? Does it actually get hot?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair appreciate it! 1) ah okay, yeah I couldn’t see fluid in the radiator, and yeah, there *had* been heat blowing out a few days ago, but since the last shut down, there’s no longer good heat. And yeah the car takes a while to come to temperature. Just as an FYI did a block test twice and it was negative (stayed blue) I’ve got the thermostat out and will replace it since I’m already in there.
I can’t *see* liquid in the radiator, but wasn’t sure if It should always be visible….edit: As an FYI when I drained the bottom I did drop fluid, so there was apparently some fluid in the radiator (I’m going by what I heard in the video that that drain plug drains the radiator) And thanks for your help…video is super helpful.
If you have the type where the thermostat is built into the housing, ... DO NOT throw away the old bad unit !! Instead, use a steel chisel, or anything that will work and a hammer and knock the thermostat out of the housing. Then keep the housing as a sweet cooling system power flush tool. It also comes in handy if you decide to use cooling system sealers and don't want to gunk up a good thermostat, just swap on the empty housing and it will circulate freely, then change it back after finished. Also for the cooling system power flush using only a garden hose, just remove both radiator hoses and switch sides. The driver side upper radiator hose goes upside down onto the stat housing and will be higher than the valve cover. The passenger side radiator hose goes on the driver side with the same end attached to the engine as it was on the thermostat housing, and facing downward so it shoots all the gunk out towards under the drivers fender. Doing this, I ran the garden hose down into the hose above the thermostat, cupped it with my hands and turned the hose on blast. Flushed everything out Real Fast and no mess in the engine compartment from gushing rust, etc.
If you drop the thermostat housing nut like I have a few times now and you can't find it on the ground, or laying on top of the alternator, and if you can't see it with a flashlight down the crack of the alternator either and it appears to have evaporated, .... Do NOT remove the AC compressor, and bracket and do not loosen the alternator to swing it away from the engine, looking for that nut. Instead, loosen the belt adjuster center bolt, then loosen the top adjuster, then remove the three bolts holding it onto the engine and remove the adjuster completely. Right behind it is an access hole for a bolt and if you stick your finger all the way in, you will feel the bolt head as well as an air gap all the way around the bolt. That gap is not large enough for that little nut to pass through and fall on the ground. You may feel the nut back in there and you will need a flex magnet to reach it. After wondering how that nut got so far in there, I realized after reassembling the belt adjuster. Installed, there is a small gap, too small to stick your finger tip into, I shone a flashlight down in there to see the rounded carriage bolt type head on the back of the adjuster mount plate. Aaaaah, ... Ricochet !! Yes, I nearly went insane finding that nut.
Thank you for making this video my 99 Maxima overheated yesterday and was able to swap out the thermostat easy. You are right though, that rear bolt is a real pain. She's runnin fine so far with no leaks so thank you.
I’ve had some luck with these in the past. Not sure how much room you have back there to fit these in though? www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-metric-bolt-extractor-socket-set-9-piece-67894.html?campaignid=12169518939&adsetid=114845770017&product=67894&store=361&gclid=CjwKCAiAleOeBhBdEiwAfgmXf4d927-7cXeURCYy76TZanXxk0tnTpZdIkagDG9gThVmNUtHPCJaExoC7H0QAvD_BwE
Hey there Helping, was the maxima having overheating issues which prompted you to swap thermostat? Reason I ask, son has an 01 and it's starting to overheat. No visible leaks
It’s not recommended although I have done so in the past without issue. I would buy a paint strainer and pour it into a clean container through the strainer.
You went ahead with your going on a-heading - a lot.... J/K man (grammar is fun to poke). Even if the camera angle and lighting weren't very helpful you made pretty clear the process involved and the tools needed so thanks for posting dude.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair at the 1 min mark and a little later you referred to the hose that connects to the thermostat housing as the upper radiator hose. Why is it called the upper hose ? It run from the bottom of the radiator to the thermostat housing . It seems like since it connects to the bottom of the radiator it would be called the bottom or lower hose.
Ronnie Williamson I’m sorry it very well could have been. Having worked on many cars I do tend to just generalize some things as I had just worked on a Honda and the upper radiator hoses on those go straight into the side of the head like this one did. If the hose goes to the lower part of the radiator then it would be called the lower radiator hose.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair thanks for the quick reply. I just finished replacing my radiator about an hour ago . I may need to change my thermostat and the hose that connects to it also. I just wanted to make sure I buy the correct hose. I assumed it would be called the lower hose . when I watched the video you called it the upper hose more than once so I thought maybe I was assuming wrong. Thanks again for the reply . the video is very helpful and you explain everything so it easy to understand. Keep up the good work.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair do you know why the 2000 Nissan maxima has both types of thermostat? It has the one you showed here thats made in the housing and the smaller round one on the driver side under the intake
The 2000 maxima has two separate thermostats. The one you just showed and the smaller round one is on driver side under intake. Do you know the purpose for it having both types of thermostat on the same engine?
Ronnie Williamson not sure why Nissan would use two. I am aware of this. Normally it’s the one in the video the acts up. 90% of the time. Some genius there thought having two would work better I suppose.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair .......😣 I'm doin my wife's car today....after work..... just before funkin sun down.... this sheet is gonna take another 2 after work days to get that crap off. 😓 I got some goo gone or whatever its called soakin on it for the night to see if it loosen up. Like yourself, I too like the RTV to help fill and seal.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair ........😥 got her done....this morning, I still believe the water pump is bad too. These 3.0 keep air pockets too so I'm gonna burp her (with the correct tool) so....🤞
I'm not a mechanic at all and I needed to know how to do this quick so thank you, probably saved me 200 or more. I didn't do it yet so I'll let you know the result
How did it go buddy
Thanks Bud. I couldn't find this anywhere. I am trying to bring a 97 nissan maxima back to life.
Wow 2years later your video is till helping me out not getting ripped off thank you please continue making videos on cars I just subscribed to your challen
Aftermarket thermostats are prone to not work properly, a friend gave me an advice not to use them but I did anyways. I bought a cheap $29 thermostat from N _ P _ and it was not opening all the way as it should, causing the car to stay at ~200F and the fan will come on very often. After removing the faulty thermostat we tested it in a hot pan, it opened around 194F and only partially (one side will open barely the other side will be still closed.)
I replaced the $29 thermostat with an original one from the dealership ($62 in Sep. 2022) and it worked like a charm, the coolant stays in the 180F range all the time (tested at ambient temperatures in September of 2022 at 65F to 80F daytime temperetures).
Exactly what I needed to review you don't need jack stands or a floor jack that's good cuz I know by that little wobbly extensions instead my workday was ruined it but I think this will solve the problem I'll let you know how it goes thank you very much it was I'm going to do a 99 Nissan Maxima
i'm concerned because when i took off the large top hose, it was bone dry inside..wondering if i have a water pump issue, or its it really the thermostat not causing the coolant to flow through
Is your radiator full?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair yeah the reservoir is full, no signs of leaking.
just a few days ago I learned the hard way how long to wait before opening my radiator cap; hot fluid was everywhere 😩
however I can’t ascertain whether or not fluid is getting to the radiator anymore.
I’m changing the thermostat because my heat gauge seems to take quite awhile to even budge, and the car stops after around 15 minutes of driving around with the gauge not even in the middle.
If I wait a few minutes I can start again and go only a little ways (was close enough to home this morning to just bring it back.
Currently trying to get that back thermostat bolt off, lol
So far I’ve replaced the radiator fan (which I think may have been the original issue because it works now, but waited too long to fix everything), fuel pump, and now working on the thermostat.
Watched another vid on fixing the water pump and if it’s that I may just drop it at the shop.:(
Ok. So trying to help you out here. However I need some more information and to clarify a few things.
1. If the coolant reservoir is full, that’s good however that’s not saying anything about whether or not the actual radiator is full. Big difference there.
2. If you know for certain you don’t have a physical coolant leak (hard to tell if the water pump is leaking since you can’t actually see it and it could be leaking slightly and drying up before it hits the ground) and you are certain the coolant level inside the radiator is good. From what I gather, the car takes a long time to come to temperature? Do you have good heat inside the car at any point? Like the heater set to max hot? Does it actually get hot?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair appreciate it!
1) ah okay, yeah I couldn’t see fluid in the radiator, and yeah, there *had* been heat blowing out a few days ago, but since the last shut down, there’s no longer good heat.
And yeah the car takes a while to come to temperature.
Just as an FYI did a block test twice and it was negative (stayed blue)
I’ve got the thermostat out and will replace it since I’m already in there.
I can’t *see* liquid in the radiator, but wasn’t sure if It should always be visible….edit: As an FYI when I drained the bottom I did drop fluid, so there was apparently some fluid in the radiator (I’m going by what I heard in the video that that drain plug drains the radiator)
And thanks for your help…video is super helpful.
If you have the type where the thermostat is built into the housing, ... DO NOT throw away the old bad unit !! Instead, use a steel chisel, or anything that will work and a hammer and knock the thermostat out of the housing. Then keep the housing as a sweet cooling system power flush tool. It also comes in handy if you decide to use cooling system sealers and don't want to gunk up a good thermostat, just swap on the empty housing and it will circulate freely, then change it back after finished.
Also for the cooling system power flush using only a garden hose, just remove both radiator hoses and switch sides. The driver side upper radiator hose goes upside down onto the stat housing and will be higher than the valve cover. The passenger side radiator hose goes on the driver side with the same end attached to the engine as it was on the thermostat housing, and facing downward so it shoots all the gunk out towards under the drivers fender. Doing this, I ran the garden hose down into the hose above the thermostat, cupped it with my hands and turned the hose on blast. Flushed everything out Real Fast and no mess in the engine compartment from gushing rust, etc.
If you drop the thermostat housing nut like I have a few times now and you can't find it on the ground, or laying on top of the alternator, and if you can't see it with a flashlight down the crack of the alternator either and it appears to have evaporated, .... Do NOT remove the AC compressor, and bracket and do not loosen the alternator to swing it away from the engine, looking for that nut. Instead, loosen the belt adjuster center bolt, then loosen the top adjuster, then remove the three bolts holding it onto the engine and remove the adjuster completely. Right behind it is an access hole for a bolt and if you stick your finger all the way in, you will feel the bolt head as well as an air gap all the way around the bolt. That gap is not large enough for that little nut to pass through and fall on the ground. You may feel the nut back in there and you will need a flex magnet to reach it. After wondering how that nut got so far in there, I realized after reassembling the belt adjuster. Installed, there is a small gap, too small to stick your finger tip into, I shone a flashlight down in there to see the rounded carriage bolt type head on the back of the adjuster mount plate. Aaaaah, ... Ricochet !! Yes, I nearly went insane finding that nut.
Thank you for making this video my 99 Maxima overheated yesterday and was able to swap out the thermostat easy. You are right though, that rear bolt is a real pain. She's runnin fine so far with no leaks so thank you.
Brandon Bartlett glad to hear that!
Any tips on getting the back bolt off if the bolt is rounded off?
I’ve had some luck with these in the past. Not sure how much room you have back there to fit these in though?
www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-metric-bolt-extractor-socket-set-9-piece-67894.html?campaignid=12169518939&adsetid=114845770017&product=67894&store=361&gclid=CjwKCAiAleOeBhBdEiwAfgmXf4d927-7cXeURCYy76TZanXxk0tnTpZdIkagDG9gThVmNUtHPCJaExoC7H0QAvD_BwE
Do you need to drain the coolant when doing this job?
Martin Su Yes
What brand part did you buy, all I can find is doorman and it doesn’t have many good reviews
Just a part from your local auto part store or dealership.
Thanks, this vid gave me the confidence to do this repair myself
Glad it helped.
Hey there Helping, was the maxima having overheating issues which prompted you to swap thermostat? Reason I ask, son has an 01 and it's starting to overheat. No visible leaks
Yes.
my friend is about to do this to her car can she reuse the coolant ?
It’s not recommended although I have done so in the past without issue. I would buy a paint strainer and pour it into a clean container through the strainer.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair awesome! thank you
You went ahead with your going on a-heading - a lot.... J/K man (grammar is fun to poke). Even if the camera angle and lighting weren't very helpful you made pretty clear the process involved and the tools needed so thanks for posting dude.
Deeper I’m sorry?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair at the 1 min mark and a little later you referred to the hose that connects to the thermostat housing as the upper radiator hose. Why is it called the upper hose ? It run from the bottom of the radiator to the thermostat housing . It seems like since it connects to the bottom of the radiator it would be called the bottom or lower hose.
Ronnie Williamson I’m sorry it very well could have been. Having worked on many cars I do tend to just generalize some things as I had just worked on a Honda and the upper radiator hoses on those go straight into the side of the head like this one did.
If the hose goes to the lower part of the radiator then it would be called the lower radiator hose.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair thanks for the quick reply. I just finished replacing my radiator about an hour ago . I may need to change my thermostat and the hose that connects to it also. I just wanted to make sure I buy the correct hose. I assumed it would be called the lower hose . when I watched the video you called it the upper hose more than once so I thought maybe I was assuming wrong. Thanks again for the reply . the video is very helpful and you explain everything so it easy to understand. Keep up the good work.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair do you know why the 2000 Nissan maxima has both types of thermostat? It has the one you showed here thats made in the housing and the smaller round one on the driver side under the intake
Oem or aftermarket
Oem is always the best choice for any part. However the choice is yours. This one is from a local parts store
If i took my 96 infiniti i30 to a shop what is the basic cost with and with out my own parts ? Anyone
Rene'e Boehm I’m in the Bay Area California. Around here probably cost you around $250-350
Rene'e Boehm I am overshooting it a little just so you have an idea. Probably most likely closer to $200
The 2000 maxima has two separate thermostats. The one you just showed and the smaller round one is on driver side under intake. Do you know the purpose for it having both types of thermostat on the same engine?
Ronnie Williamson not sure why Nissan would use two. I am aware of this. Normally it’s the one in the video the acts up. 90% of the time. Some genius there thought having two would work better I suppose.
How do I bleed it
12:12
Bruh.... that gasket and a razor will cause an brain aneurysm tryin to remove....
rome seveneightsixnine yes especially up top where it’s hella hard to see 🤷🏽♂️
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair .......😣 I'm doin my wife's car today....after work..... just before funkin sun down.... this sheet is gonna take another 2 after work days to get that crap off. 😓 I got some goo gone or whatever its called soakin on it for the night to see if it loosen up. Like yourself, I too like the RTV to help fill and seal.
rome seveneightsixnine Damn...
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair ........😥 got her done....this morning, I still believe the water pump is bad too. These 3.0 keep air pockets too so I'm gonna burp her (with the correct tool) so....🤞