I am looking at a car (Fiat Punto) and the owner said the thermostat will need replacing, is this a serious problem and how much do they cost, are they hard to fit for a mechanic?? Is it vital for a car to have a thermostat, Thanks in advance for all answers.
2006-10-12 09:10:04 · 10 answers · asked by pav t 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The ASE tech has a point. If a thermostat sticks open the engine will be "undercooled". The coolant will flow unrestricted and the engine's operating temperature will drop below its normal level of operating efficiency. Gas mileage will suffer. In addition the passenger cabin won't warm up as quickly or as much on cold days because the coolant temperature is lower than it is normally.
Conversely, if it sticks shut the engine can overheat from restricted flow.
So the moral of the story is:
Yes you need a thermostat, it should be a relatively inexpensive fix, especially if you're a handy person. Just don't snap any of the bolts that hold the housing to the block, and don't forget to replace the gasket.
2006-10-12 12:21:59 · answer #1 · answered by quick4_6 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, I cannot believe an ASE technician would say "overcooling". OK, I guess I can. I never trust them. Anyway, the primary job of a thermostat is to stop the flow of water (coolant) so that it can sit in the radiator for a minute and cool down. When it opens up, the water in the engine is pushed into the radiator and the cooler water in the radiator is drawn into the engine's water jacket. When the cooler water gets to the thermostat, it will close again. Usually, the thermostat will stick shut and it is most common at the beginning of winter for some reason. When it sticks shut, there is little to no circulation of water through your engine. That is when the engine overheats. Good luck. Hope this explaination helps.
2006-10-12 16:29:12 · answer #2 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A car needs a functioning thermostat or it can overheat and cause damage to the engine. It is a fairly easy repair job. I just had one done and it cost about $150.00, but my mechanic is fairly expensive. I would DEFINITELY have a mechanic check it out before you buy it to make sure that is ALL that is wrong with it. It could be the seller is covering up a much more serious overheating problem by saying it is just a bad thermostat. You need to protect yourself when you buy used cars.
2006-10-12 16:22:18 · answer #3 · answered by galacticsleigh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would be leary of this. If the thermostat is bad, how does he know that? They are inexpensive and relatively easy to replace. I would hope he has been operating the car without overheating it
The thermostat device is installed in the water outlet fitting nearest the water pump. It allows your car to heat up quickly to operating temperature (especially when it's cool outside) by allowing only engine block water to circulate. When the water heats up enough in the block, the thermostat opens to let cool water in from the radiator. Without it your car and Heater would take miles and miles to warm up and would likely run bad, stall, etc until warm enough. In south Florida people often remove their Thermostats because it never gets cold, but generally it s a good idea to leave it in.
2006-10-12 16:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by David B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thermostat is essential because otherwise the car will overheat and blow. As the owner already knows this, maybe it has already overheated, which may have caused more damage. Have a qualified mechanic of your choosing inspect the car before you buy ( & tell them of the thermostat issue )
2006-10-12 16:19:45 · answer #5 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are necessary as it is the only to protect the engine from OVER-cooling.
They aren't difficult to replace. It is ONE of the repairs considered simple enough that MOST do-it-yourself-ers can undertake the task successfully. They cost < $15.00 including the gasket. Be certain to replace it with the heat range recommended by the manufacturer, and NOT a "summer" version.
Good Luck
2006-10-12 16:18:57 · answer #6 · answered by Ironhand 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's important for your vehicle to have a thermostat! Without one it can overheat, as well as cause other problems. It's not a terribly complicated job, but the car cannot function properly without one.
2006-10-12 16:18:17 · answer #7 · answered by Katie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the car is not new and it is warm outside u can take it out and put the hoses back and drive for a good while without it.I have done it plenty.If anything it will tell you whether it is the thermosate or not.you will probably need some gaskit sealear.
2006-10-12 16:26:11 · answer #8 · answered by patrick b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they should have one easy to replace about £6 sterling.
2006-10-12 16:13:06 · answer #9 · answered by mick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree with all other answer and i can add you the car will comsume more fuel if you are in cold weather.
2006-10-16 16:05:15 · answer #10 · answered by lostship 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋