Car gets real hot on the HWY. Want to change the thermostat...

can i do it without special tools?? Have an 89 GXL FC

 

All you need is a 12 mm socket and a long extension (to get the ratchet up and over the water neck).

Get a new thermostat from the deal or mazdatrix (do NOT use the junk ones from a parts store) and a gasket if it doesnt come with it and a little bit of grey RTV.

You pull the water neck off, and there it is.. spring side goes down...

put a thin coat of grey RTV on each side of the gaskett and slap 'er back together

I would also check everything else, flush the coolant.. and replace the cap (dealer or Mazdatrix).. shouldn't be running hot on the highway.

 

If you buy the thermostat from Mazda it will come with the gasket. How high on the gauge is "real hot"? Are you losing coolant? Do you have your undertray on and the air pump belt on as well as the alternator belt? (or duel alternator belts?)

 

S5 has an "o" ring, not a gasket.

 

pretty high on the temp gauge, not losing coolant.

What is grey RTV? I can pick up a thermostat for 13Canadian, which is cheap, and a rotary shop will install it for 40 more... but if it can be easily taken off then i will do it myself and save the 40 for drinks

 

Do a complete system flush while you're at it.

 

if your running hot on just the highway, it could be your waterpump...

 

Exactly.

 

could be alot of things, i had a clogged radiator on one of my cars. Make sure you fan is working correctly. Flush everything, change the thermostat and all the hoses while you're at it.

 

I think you should change the bolts too, because they are easy to break.

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/cooling.htm

Also, "real hot" on an 89+ car is a problem. The S5 gauge has three positions: cold, normal and new engine. Any movement past middle means that the car is already way too hot.

 

They don't break if you use a torque wrench and install them at the proper torque. IMO it is better to pay somebody $40 to do this properly if you do not have a torque wrench, as you could easily damage the thermostat cover or water pump housing, both of which cost more than $40.

If the thermostat doesn't come with a gasket (S4) or an O-ring (S5) then it is one of the "junk ones from a parts store".

 

Sorry to High jack thread but I need to find out what's going on.......

soulja77,

I am still waiting for my TRACKING #. I sent you the PAYPAL payment 1 week ago and I've e-mailed you a couple times already waiting for the tracking number. I've gotten NO answer except the last one on Monday that you were going to do it on tuesday. It's SATURDAY and NO answer from you. I still don't even know if you've mailed out the Trim Piece and the Rubber Piece for the Brake pedal.

PLEASE Answer my e-mails or PM's, I need to find out what's going on!!

 

I actually had BOTH bolts break off into the water pump a couple months ago on my s4 N/A. I'm guessing somehow coolant/water mixture seeped into the threaded part and locked it in place. Luckily I had an extra motor that I could steal the water pump off of (I could not get the broken ends to come out using a 'reverse' drill bit.) You're right though, at some point the T-stat had been replaced and probably hadn't been put back in cautiously enough.

 

Use antiseize, as you should be doing on ALL bolts/nuts that don't require threadlocker or sealer.