T
thenewno2090167
Guest
big repair to get fixed? i get hot air and then col...never the same..winter coming!!!
is this a big problem??
is this a big problem??
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if the thermostat or heater in car goes bad...is it really expensive and
R
Rhymes with Orange
Guest
A thermostat going bad is generally very inexpensive to fix, and oftentimes you can fix it yourself quite easily (depending on your car). To find the thermostat, it's usually inside the housing on the top of the engine that connects the top of the radiator to the top of the engine. Basically, open your hood, find the thick hose at the top of the radiator that goes towards the engine, follow that hose to where it meets the engine, there should be a metal housing bolted to the engine at that point, and inside that housing is the thermostat. It's usually held on by just 2 or 3 bolts. All you'd do is remove the bolts (have a pan ready to catch the coolant!), remove the old thermostat, pop the new one in, put the bolts back in, and top up the radiator. 5-minute job, tops.
You should be able to do it for yourself for just the price of the thermostat (they're usually under $10 each). But if you'd rather have a mechanic do it, a local mechanic should be able to do the job for you very quickly... definately under $50 installed.
You should be able to do it for yourself for just the price of the thermostat (they're usually under $10 each). But if you'd rather have a mechanic do it, a local mechanic should be able to do the job for you very quickly... definately under $50 installed.
S
smartblond48
Guest
Thermostats are cheap.
Heaters are very expensive. The parts don't cost that much but the labour to replace them is.
Heaters are very expensive. The parts don't cost that much but the labour to replace them is.
R
roseyjoey
Guest
I'm a former auto parts salesman. I can tell you that the general cost of a thermostat is around $4-9. Don't forget the gasket or o-ring that is SUPPOSED to go with it. If for some reason the store does not include this, it will have to be purchased separately. Paper thermostat gaskets are around $1 and plastic o-rings are generally $2-4.
Your HEATER CORE is a different story. Depending on the vehicle, several things MIGHT have to be removed to get to it since it's right up inside the firewall area, which is that back wall that sepatares the motor cabin from the cabin itself.
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Get back with us on MAKE, MODEL, and ENGINE SPECS and I can see about finding some parts for your information if you want.
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There are some things you can do to help narrow down problems:
1. CHECK COOLANT LEVEL- if full, good.
2. CHECK COOLANT COLOR- if purty green or orange, good. If gunky, BAD.
The HEATER CORE basically heats the cabin using the coolant when it's still hot and fresh from the engine. From there, it returns to the radiator.
VERY IMPORTANT: 'hot and fresh' doesn't mean you can fill a coffee cup with it and drink it with some muffins on a brisk morning before work. I KNOW Dr. Pepper has Polyethylene Glycol in it, a principle additive in coolant; that doesn't give you just cause to drink the stuff. (heh)
If very gunky, have the radiator flushed before considering changing the heater core. I would recommend you go ahead and change the thermostat as it is inexpensive and easy to reach.
Your HEATER CORE is a different story. Depending on the vehicle, several things MIGHT have to be removed to get to it since it's right up inside the firewall area, which is that back wall that sepatares the motor cabin from the cabin itself.
~~~~~~~~
Get back with us on MAKE, MODEL, and ENGINE SPECS and I can see about finding some parts for your information if you want.
~~~~~~~~
There are some things you can do to help narrow down problems:
1. CHECK COOLANT LEVEL- if full, good.
2. CHECK COOLANT COLOR- if purty green or orange, good. If gunky, BAD.
The HEATER CORE basically heats the cabin using the coolant when it's still hot and fresh from the engine. From there, it returns to the radiator.
VERY IMPORTANT: 'hot and fresh' doesn't mean you can fill a coffee cup with it and drink it with some muffins on a brisk morning before work. I KNOW Dr. Pepper has Polyethylene Glycol in it, a principle additive in coolant; that doesn't give you just cause to drink the stuff. (heh)
If very gunky, have the radiator flushed before considering changing the heater core. I would recommend you go ahead and change the thermostat as it is inexpensive and easy to reach.