For The Car Owner Coolant will also leak out of the system once the housing is cracked, warped, or damaged in any way. A failed or worn seal may also cause a similar issue. Your engine may overheat if your thermostat housing keeps on leaking, so it's best to address this issue right away.
Mainly age and corrosion are the culprits. Failure of parts falls closely in line with the aforementioned reasons. But, WHAT causes this? Heat, lack of coolant in the mix/ratio of coolant vs water and possibly a defective manufacture of thermostat.
Driving a car with a broken thermostat is not advisable. The thermostat regulates the engine's temperature by controlling the flow of coolant. If it's stuck closed, the engine can overheat, leading to severe damage such as a blown head gasket or warped cylinder head.
The average cost for a Thermostat Housing Replacement is between $506 and $550. Labor costs are estimated between $134 and $169 while parts are priced between $373 and $382.
A car thermostat is designed to last a long time – typically around 100,000 miles or 10 years. However, various factors can impact its lifespan. First, driving conditions play a role. If you regularly drive in hot weather or stop-and-go traffic, your thermostat may suffer additional stress.
Typically, the housings include a main body that's sand-cast, then two machined parts inserted into the main body—a top smokestack, and an arm. Inside the vehicle, the housing will serve as a home for the car's thermostat.
You Notice Erratic Temperature Changes
If you notice sudden and erratic temperature changes from cold to hot or hot to cold, then it could be a sign that your thermostat has stopped working correctly. Get your vehicle inspected if you notice these extreme temperature changes in your vehicle interior.
A malfunctioning radiator, cooling fan, or thermostat can disrupt the proper cooling of the transmission fluid, resulting in overheating.
The most common causes behind a temperature gauge that isn't working include a faulty coolant temperature sensor, broken thermostat, and air trapped in the coolant system. A temperature gauge displays the current temperature of your vehicle's coolant.
Replacing an analog or digital thermostat is one of those DIY projects you can do yourself. Analog thermostats are easier to install but digital ones offer more advanced features, such as programmable settings.
Without a functioning thermostat, your engine can either overheat because the coolant isn't circulating properly, or it can take too long to reach the proper operating temperature, which can also cause engine problems over time.
Power problems are one of the most common causes of thermostat failure. Whether your thermostat is wired to the mains or runs on batteries, a lack of power will stop your thermostat from accepting commands and communicating with your HVAC system.
Thermostat replacement normally involves the removal of other parts, such as throttle housing and throttle body, as well as draining and refilling the cooling system, but should take a home mechanic around a couple of hours or so.
If you drive with a bad thermostat, your car could overheat, causing severe and expensive engine damage. And while it's technically possible to drive without a thermostat, we don't recommend it. Your car will not reach an acceptable operating temperature, resulting in higher fuel consumption and excessive engine wear.
If your transmission frequently overheats, you risk a catastrophic failure to your vehicle. With the transmission being a vital element of your vehicle, any failure to the transmission can put an end to your driving and leave you with costly repairs.
Corrosion occurs, among other things if a wrong coolant is used. The corrosion attacks the thermostats aluminum parts that almost "etch away" (see figures 1 and 2). But also mixing of different coolants can cause corrosion. Therefore avoid mixing different types of coolant together.
While there is a small chance that there is an issue with the running temperature of your engine, by far the most common issue with trouble code P0128 is a faulty thermostat. The exact location of the thermostat and issues related to a damaged thermostat may vary depending on your vehicle.
You may never need to worry about replacing your car's thermostat because they last 10 years on average. This being said, if you plan to keep your car for a long time, or if you drive an older automobile, there will come a time when you need to replace the thermostat.
Erratic temperature readings in the instrument cluster will usually cause the thermostat housing to fail. If this happens, the wrong amount of coolant may be sent to the engine which in turn will cause the thermostat housing liquid to either underperform or over-perform.
How Much Does a Thermostat Housing Replacement Cost? A replacement thermostat housing will cost you around $50 to $250 on parts alone. Labor costs can range anywhere between $130 and $170. Keep in mind that you may need to spend more on other related repairs.
In most cars the thermostat is placed under a housing near the water pump on the cylinder head ; the housing is connected directly to the top radiator hose . In a few cars the thermostat is housed near the bottom hose. Test the thermostat quickly by starting the engine from cold.