Chevy Blazer Thermostat Sticking

[Airpark]

Got a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer with just over 124,000 on it. Have a Thermostat Check light that goes on, stays for maybe a week or so and goes off and stays off for a while and then comes back on. Fortunately it is stuck in the open position so the engine does not overheat.

Checked with local dealer service man, whom I know and respect, and he said it would cost $247.00 and take about half a day to take the old one out and put in a new one.

My question is there anyone out there who knows how to possibly lubricate the thing and make it work.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[mr.jbk79]

When the t- stat starts to become inoperative, it needs to be replaced. It needs to stay closed at first so the engine gets up to operating temp sooner for emissions. A warmer engine uses less fuel/more efficient. That t-stat is a bit tricky to get at and replace, thats why its more expensive, labor cost. Takes about 1.5 - 2 hrs. Probably double the time if you're a DIY'er

 

[Maddog 521]

I think you're going to have to change it out. If you can get to it I would think it would be an easy job.

 

[KJM]

Got a 2005 Chevy Trailblazer with just over 124,000 on it. Have a Thermostat Check light that goes on, stays for maybe a week or so and goes off and stays off for a while and then comes back on. Fortunately it is stuck in the open position so the engine does not overheat.

Checked with local dealer service man, whom I know and respect, and he said it would cost $247.00 and take about half a day to take the old one out and put in a new one.

My question is there anyone out there who knows how to possibly lubricate the thing and make it work.

Thanks for any advice.

Bill- The stat is under alternator. Brilliant engineering.

The thermostat is located behind and slightly below the alternator on the drivers side. For the best access to the thermostat, you should unbolt and move the alternator to reach the upper bolt. The lower Thermostat bolt can be reached by taking off the front drivers side tire and reaching in with a 24" extension. The actual bolts are 10mm.



It would be nice to have someone put a code reader on that also, as it could be the COOLANT SENSOR that is bad and not the stat...

 

[65kaiser]

Remove the front tire and alternator to change the t-stat!!!!!! aint progress grand!!!!!

 

[PA Reb]

Changed the thermostat in my 05 Blazer a month ago. Took 15 minutes and I don't know what I'm doing! Its right on top out front and all you need to do is remove two nuts, pullt the goose neck off, change the t-stat and tighten the bolts. Piece of cake!

 

[JcMack]

Trailblazer has a straight six. Kind of unique. I've got a Colorado that has a 4cyl that's the same engine with 2 cyls. cut off. Pay the guy and get it done. Have the system back flushed and when was coolant last replaced?

 

[proctorflash]

Bill
Hope this helps, mine is a inline six Not a easy repair There is a web site that has tons of info on DIY I did mine a couple of years ago worked great for me. I did not take off the alternator on mine.There is over 300 replys on this alone. Lots of reading. I used reply#84 Be sure to Read # 86 and #308 the web site is

trailvoy.com
forums
02-08 trailvoy tech
02-09 how to section
thermostat repair

 

[RightArm]

It was just a sensor on my van. Replaced t stat and light still came on. Bad part is I wrecked a copper gas line in the process and had to get creative to repair that. After all that I just ignored the light and never once overheated. Good luck.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

You have a 2005 trailblazer with 124000 miles. Presumably it is paid for. If you feel comfortable doing this yourself then by al means do it. Otherwise pay the $247 to have someone do it and consider that your car note for the year. With the price od crs these days, it pays to think this way. Take care of it and it will last a long time. Case in point-I just spent $800 on my suburban to replace a AC motor and the motor/relays for my windows. First money I have spent on repairs in over a year so this is my 2012 cr note. The 'burb is 1999 and has 334,000 miles on it. A new one with 0 miles runs about $45,000. I'll keep mine

 

[Bob R]

If you feel comfortable doing this yourself then by al means do it. Otherwise pay the $247 to have someone do it and consider that your car note for the year. With the price od crs these days, it pays to think this way. Take care of it and it will last a long time.

I have a 1978 Ford 4x4 van. Last year I long blocked it, and this year I did tires and other maint. All total over the 10 years I have owned it I have probably put 5-6k into it. I figure an avarage of 5-600 dollars a year beats a 5-700 dollar car payment per month hands down.

bob

 

[papajohn428]

The problem with modern vehicles is that they have all these bloody sensors, and when you get a trouble indicator, you don't know if there's really a problem, or if the sensor is haywire. My previous car was two years old when the Check Engine light started coming on, the mechanic checked the code and said it was the thermostat sensor. Anytime the weather got below 40 degrees, the stupid thing would trip the Check Engine light, and every spring when it warmed up it would reset itself.

And then when the thermostat DID die, it never told me........the head warped, and it cost me $1800 to fix it.

Piss-poor engineering, if you akses me!

 

[quneur]

You are likely to need gasket sealer and extra coolant. Change it when the engine is cold.

 

[mr.jbk79]

Most, but not all later model vehicles either use an o-ring or a seal around the thermostat instead of a traditional gasket.

 

[H Richard]

I had one replaced in my 03 Trailblazer for just over $158 about 6 mo. ago by my local shop. Just one of the things I have had done to try and find out why my "Service Engine Soon" light continually comes on. Will stay on for 5-10 days then go off for a couple weeks then back on again. I've also changed gas caps, and the EGR valve. Still comes on. They keep telling me it won't hurt anything, just that it doesn't meet pollution standards,##@$@&*@#**

 

[Abbynormal]

GM = *** (Ask me I know)