Ain't got no jiggle
 

I just bought a new OEM thermostat from Ray (PN 8AF6-15-171-9U) and it does not have a jiggle pin. Is there a separate part number for the orginal design - or why has the design changed?

yeah no jiggle pin and 180f, i recieved the same, works fine *shrug*

Good question. That might be worth a call to Ray. If that's all we can get, you can drill a tiny hole in the thermostat where the jiggle pin should be - that will serve the same purpose.

Dale

I just received one of these from Ray today too. . .Does it need a hole?

The last thermostat that i got from Mazda was not a Mazda part. It was an aftermarket one. It looked just like a stant tstat. Mazda has been selling aftermarket parts in mazda boxes. I installed a set of mazda brake pads for a TII and they were not the factory brake pads.

I guess these cars are getting old and its easier and cheaper for Mazda to sell aftermarket parts.

I called and asked the same thing last week. He said they've been upgraded and no longer need the jiggle.

I noticed that a couple months ago. I bet they just merged the fd thermostat with another one to save a few bucks. Never understood why you needed that pin anyway. Mazda over-engineering the wrong things at its best. The replacement one works fine.

I just received a new thermostat from Mazda Motorsports. Its the same part number as listed in the first post, except it doesn't have the "-9U" at the end. It does have a jiggle pin.

Just go to autozone and buy one. You will need a new OEM rubber gasket though.

later

You can match up the gaskets and drill a 1/8th sized hole in any t-stat that fits the stock housing. Put the hole to the top when you install it.

FWIW, many aftermarket t-stats are garbage. I would never install one from "the parts store on the corner".

Yep, I noticed the same thing. No jiggle. Just got my new OEM thermostat today. See pics at

THIS LOCATION

Funny because I just got a new one from Ray last week and it definitely had the jiggle pin. It was slightly different than the original one but certainly there. Weird.

pics & part number
 

Hm, can you post pics of the unit and what is the part number?

I can try to find my receipt but I tossed the box and the thermostat is already installed in my (actually working) car.

Yes this is typical Mazda North America!Any part with -9U on the end has been sourced by Mazda NA outside of Japan.In my experience these parts are usually inferior in design and/or quality to the original Japan made parts.

You could ask Ray to get you part no N3A1-15-171,areal made in Japan t/stat.Personally I would not use one with -9U in the part no.

I just ordered one directly from Mazda with the original part number of 8AF5-15-171, which was canceled and replaced with 8AF6-15-171 -9U. My -9U has the jiggle pin from what I remember because when I pulled it out of the box last week I remember thinking "nice, this one does actually have it" as the last one I ordered did not. The last one I ended up drilling holes in.

Just wanted to confirm that my -9u does have the jiggle pin. I just ordered it using my Mazda Motorsports account.

made in Japan version
 

I bought 5 of these,just in case they go obsolete.There were 15 left in the Toronto warehouse this morning.Note you have to buy the O-ring separately.

The quality of construction looks better than the -9U product(even if the quality of the pics is worse!)

My eyeball tells me that the opening maybe larger too.

questions...
 

Interesting. Some questions about your drilled unit:

1. Any comments on the performance of the unit you drilled holes in?
-temperature fluctuations/regulation, does it open at regulated temp from what you can tell
-coolant system bleeding
-track or street use

2. Does it take considerably longer to warm your car up as compared to the jiggle pin equipped unit? If so, how long?

3. Any pics and/or comments to where you drilled the holes, how many, and what size? (I've read 1/8" dia. hole, some people drill one up to four...)

Many thanks in advance.

The little jiggle pin and hole is used as a bleeder (place pin at the highest point in the thermostat housing to properly bleed small air bubbles (for the most accurate/ efficient function)

this allows the thermostat to be completely surrounded by coolant.

There is no major difference between a jiggle pin & and a hole, just make sure the pin or hole
is at the highest point when installed.

1. I went through the whole coolant system at the same time... new thermostat, a new waterpump out of a 99+ FD engine, fluidyne radiator, full system flush, new cooling fan relays, etc... so I can't really comment on whether or not it helped anything. I do normally verify a thermostat is working before installing it in a car by placing it in a pan of boiling water and monitoring the temperature with a thermometer to see when it opens. This FD is street driven, but I have done 5 track days in it in May/June with outside temperatures being in the 90's without issue.

2. I haven't noticed it taking considerably longer to warm up, but it hasn't become cold here yet.

3. I picked up the idea from Crispy. If I remember correctly, the were 1/8" holes. Growing up around racing, I remember alot of people would put a washer in place of the thermostat(in other cars) just so it had a bit of a restriction to regulate the flow somewhat. I just took a drill bit and put it on the outer ring of the thermostat to see what size would work the best before I drilled. I drilled 4 holes. They weren't the cleanest holes in the world, but they really don't have to be as long as they aren't touching the outer o ring seal or the actual thermostat. The picture makes it look like one of the holes is on the o-ring, it actually isn't... just a weird angle/lighting I guess.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...Parts001-1.jpg

For a comparison to Six Rotors original part number thermostat, here are pictures of the one I got last week. Notice the location of the jiggle pin.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...X7Parts208.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...X7Parts209.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...X7Parts210.jpg