Calling all car mechanics.
 

I'm trying to change out parts in my work car to keep it running better. It's a 96 Saturn SL1. She's been a good car for me so far. This weekend I put a new serpentine belt on, which was a pain in the ass. I also wanted to slap on a new thermostat. When I took off the old thermostat it's was missing. The previous owner must have taken it off for a reason. What could this reason be? Thanks in advance.

Probably stuck shut and they didn't want to buy another one. Put one back in.

Mr. Sauto, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

Antifreeze, Ball Bearings, Blinker Fluid/CP

Your flux capacitor has most likely lost continuity between the thing ama boppy and the doo hickey. Change the anti brake fluid in the transfreeze transporter and you should be fine

I'd give that about a 99% probability.

if the old thermostat was bad it could have either been stuck closed, which would cause the car to overheat. Or it could have been stuck open, which would have caused the engine to never reach operating temperature and that would also cause you to have no heat in the winter.

I did, a brand new one. I tightened everything back and installed the hose back on. I started the car and it was leaking from the thermostat body (not the hose). I turned it off and tried to wrench them a little tighter. Still leaking. Like it wasn't wanting to open up. I put the old thermostat body back on and no leaks. Not sure if there's a pressure issue or not.

Sounds like it got so hot it warped the metal. Have you tried any gasket seal?

did you put a new gasket? the thermostat has to have a rubber gasket on those saturns, im pretty sure they are sold separately

New one was installed. It leaked from the housing with the whole new thermostat installed. When I took off the thermostat and just installed the body no leaks.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/22/a8y2agy4.jpg


I took off the thermostat and just installed it back, like it was originally.

it leaked from the bolted flange right?

If your car was running fine without it (getting up to operating temperature/heat works in the winter) then I would say just leave it out.

I had a Saturn just like that one and I never had a thermostat in mine. it ran a little cooler then it was supposed to but didn't effect my heat or gas mileage so **** it.

Check that O-ring, They can be tricky sometimes. They may look like they're ok but have a tiny flaw causing the leak.

not sure if known but there's a gasket to go with that assy.

go back to the parts store and tell the guy to look up a gasket for the thermostat housing

this is a generic diagram, but item #2 is the gasket. also be sure the surfaces are still clean ( they look good in your pic) apply a thin even coat of copper gasket compound to both sides of it (below)

http://www.justanswer.com/uploads/Mo...340_tstsat.gifhttp://www.shopthedude.com/filedb/6/0/19506.png

Makes no sense it seals with one housing and not the other.

Are you sure you didn't crack the new one when installing?
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Be sure to check the fetzer valve.

No, the new thermostat housing is in installed in my car. It leak with it on, so took it off and just installed the the body. No leaks. My old one is in the trash.

dude, it has to have a gasket.

Then the thermostat must not have been in the groove all the way
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There was no gasket when I took it off, just an o-ring.

okay so no gasket needed, but this video shows the oring gets a gasket sealer applied to it

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Flip her over Henry.

o rings are supposed to be installed with no sealer. In fact I use very little silicone.
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agreed, but I normally see oring seals in oil related apps, like distributor housings etc. couldn't hurt to put the sealant on there, follow the directions and it should hold.

I just don't know why it would leak from the housing with the new thermostat and then not leak with the thermostat out. It's spewing out and both nuts were tight.

there is a lil guide ridge in the housing -- without the thermostat in there, that ridge does not bottom out inside as you crank it tight. with the thermostat in, now it bottoms out inside and you can't completely cinch it down.

BTW- where you are, the climate is mild during winter -- you don't need a thermostat, really.

That's what it seems like, but I should be able to put a new one inside without it leaking.

welp.. you'll be fine without it mang. it's good to have if you live in areas that have cold climates because it'll keep you and the engine near fine operating temps, but where you are, it'll rarely get cold enough that it is necessary.

Don't let JASONSAUTO take a look. You will fly off a rollercoaster to your death!!!!

Yeah I understand. Thanks for the help. There was nothing wrong with it. I just want to start replacing parts, little by little. I'll leave it out, just wondering why it would leak like that. The previous owner must have had it out for a reason.

I'll try to find other things I can replace. My belt works great now. It would squeak like a mothe****er when the AC was on. Embarrassing to say the least.