If your thermometer goes out in a 2000 dodge neon is $160.00 expensive for a repair on that part. thx?

Question

autozone code read it could be a thermostat issue. P1281.
So I don't know it does not seem to be moving from Cold on the reading at all. Firestone said they would put it on there computer for 105.00 it could also be something else causing it. It is blowing out some hot air. Are these diagnostic instruments the same? Was this cost effective to do based on autozone reading.

Answer 1

$160 to have the thermostat replaced is not excessive, although its not hard to do yourself for a lot less. Piece of cake to get at.

As noted by others, could be other things as well. Thermostat is cheapest of those other things, so try that and see what happens.

For further advice, try Neons.org. They've helped me a lot with quick, accurate advice.

Answer 2

That's the thermostat not thermometer. The quote sounds OK. The repair is usually 1 hour for the thermostat replacement and parts should include the new thermostat, new anti-freeze, and maybe a hose or hose clamp if there was a leak.
Make sure the head gasket isn't bad. The 4 cylinder 2000 cc. motor had a bad head gasket design and everyone of the vehicles sooner or later will need the new design head gasket installed. Some cars make it over 60,000 miles before they leak and some go sooner. If the thermostat failed and the motor just takes longer to heat up is one thing, but more likely the anti-freeze was low from the head gasket leaking and now the motor has over heated which will cause an even greater failure of the headgasket. Good luck, you're going to need it.

Answer 3

P1281 error code indicates that your thermostat is probably not working and your car is not warming up fast enough. Replacing a thermostat is a fairly simple replacement and not very expensive. Auto zone can provide you with a cost of the thermostat.

You can do an internet serach on p1281 code and find out a lot of information.

If your warning light is on you can reset it by disconecting the negative battery cable for 15 minutes.

If Firestone checks the problem they will get the same code and probably recommend replacing the thermostat.

Answer 4

The thermostat is an inexpensive part to replace, and you can do it yourself. Go to Napa, or similar parts place, explain your situation. Buy youself repair manual that has a lot of photos (usually @$20.00). The thermostat tells the engine when to accept coolant from the radiator. You can check yours by taking it out of your car, and placing it it a pot of boiling water on your stove with a cooking thermometer in the water. If the car part is working, it should open in the boiling water at it designed temp. Simple check. Save your $$. Do it yourself.

Answer 5

i wouldnt pay to have codes read but thats me, also 160 is that for fixing or just reading the codes..explain more

Answer 6

whats expensive to you?