One Of The Worst Thermostat Locations!! Really Wasn't As Bad As Expected.. 

My father used to say the following all the time and for like 25 years I have yet to find a scenario it doesn't apply to... "Excluding any dealings with women; if ever there is a source of aggravation in your life, it can ultimately be traced back to one of two people: a lawyer or a god damn engineer." My pops dog cussed engineers like it was his hobby and the older I get I find no reason to fault him for it.

I know a mechanic and he said “no one makes a good thermostat anymore”.

Not a professional, but have been wrenching for more than 40 years. It's almost as if some of these parts were an afterthought after the rest of the engine was already designed. Recently replaced an alternator on a car where I had to unbolt the motor mounts and jack the motor up 3 inches because the bolts in the alternator hit the frame rail. WTH!?! Thanks for more great content!

Honesty and integrity is all you have in this business and you sir have both

The things these engineers come up with to make our lives as mechanics difficult is impressive. Ugh give me a '66 Galaxie with a damn 289....stupid easy to work on!

Engineers are bound and determined to make you take the car back to the dealer for repairs aren't they.

WOW what a job. Makes ya wonder where their head was at when they designed it. Thanks Kenny.

Not all engineers are that bad. I'm an engineer and I cuss out the automotive engineers every time I work on my cars.

Insane ... I thought putting the starter under the intake of the NorthStar's was bad ... Geesh!

I don't know about everyone else but I can see better with your light on Doesn't bother me and I do not see any glare

I like this style of video you do.. just show the highlights and to the point. I.m about to do a thermostat on my 2017 Colorado 3.6. Looks like a pain but not near as much as what you did. Love your videos and a big thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. It is so much appreciated! (All the way from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. )

Thank you for pointing out why one should think twice before buying a GM product.

"Yep, I screw up, too." I think this is why I enjoy Kenny's channel so much. Like him, under my channel when I show how to diagnose or repair an old, vintage Mustang (1967 - 1973), there i always a possibility something will go wrong with a 50+ year old vehicle. It is like I told my son the other year, when I decided to begin doing videos on How To Diagnose and Repair those old school vehicles, There isn't a job that is so simple that it can't turn into a 10 hour job because of an unexpected event." Sometimes it pays to just go a little slower than one normally needs to, or exert a little less force than "needed" just to keep from breaking something needlessly. Anyway, it is his open and almost self deprecating mannerisms that I find so interesting. I thought it was just me. heh heh... Kudos, Kenny. I like your folksy approach with your work. Even us old(er) timers can learn something from you. I know I sure have!

Thanks for the video Kenny, that's nuts 😲. Take care of yourself and family and be Blessed ❤️.

Just had this done under warranty. Was very curious why it was a $1200 job, calling for 6hrs. Makes perfect sense now. Good grief.

Hey Kenny..let me just say the engineers have a boss..their job is to save the company money they don't care about mechanics or how much it cost the customers..i worked at a auto manufacture as a repairman in the shop and had to deal with engineers on a daily basis..some of the things they told me was were unbelievable..so go easy on the engineers they have the knowledge to create a good product it's the company that won't let them use it..management is our worse enemy..have a great day friend..Cheers 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I did not catch the cost of the thermostat, but I did hear it is 5 hours to change it, once this get out, GM will not be able to give these cars away. The stat used to be one of the easiest part to change.

I liked my 1988 Pontiac Grand Am with the 151 Iron Duke motor for thermostat simplicity. Take Cap off, pull it out. Reassembly is reverse of disassembly.

Remember the good old days two bolts pop it off, get thermostat and gasket from any parts store drop it in bolt in on! About thirty minutes in your driveway or anywhere😊

I will never even think about buying one.

If you've got a shop vac you can put the hose in the outlet and use it as a blower. If you use the crevice too it will speed up the air. An old airplane told me one time "You can't cross thread a bolt buy hand." While that's not completely true it won't cause any damage because you can't get it tight enough. Great advice. As far as the engineers and their placement of the thermostat goes if you weren't in on the discussions you don't really know why the decision was made. I'm sure they knew it was going to be a pain to replace but sometimes that's the best you can do. Keep the good stuff coming buddy.

Great video again. Love you are an honest guy working in the industry.!!

FINALLY got it Out! Looks expensive! Great video, Kenny...thanks.

The horror, the horror. Good job!

I remember a particular Cadillac engine where you had to remove the intake to get to the starter.

Great catch Kenny. You have integrity and always want to do the job right.

Nice job on that !! I can see why when I read stories about factory trained techs that can't work on some of these cars ....

I only have a few chrome universals/swivel sockets. I bought 1/4 sizes i use most often 8mm,10mm,12mm. 3/8 13mm,14mm,15mm and 17mm. Mixed matched from different brands. They do come in handy. I have a small 3/8 impact set from Gearwrench on 8 inch extensions that are life savers.

This is why I think these designers should have to work in a service department for 12 months before they can design anything to do with a product

My assumption is that they are specifically told to design things in difficult Ways to service.

I've always stuck with the '60s to mid ''90s cars because a problem was detectable and easy to get at. I'll rock up to a gathering with a 1996 Toyota and some ridicule. I laugh. But in revenge at times will turn up with a 1957 Silver Cloud my WWI veteran Grandfather bought on the cheap and handed down to Dad and then me as custodian. That car is simple to maintain and fix. RR used GM trans and Delco dizzys, along with SU's.

Remember when a thermostat was a 15 minute job? 10 minutes if you didn't take a beer break between removal and installation.

Thank you Kenny.

Thanks Kenny!

Wife has a 2017 BMW X1... thermostat replacement is 8 hours... and yes, remove the intake manifold and the alternator. Half the bolts are only accessible thru the wheel well. Thanks transverse mounted engine.

I wish that these engineers that design this stuff were actually the ones that have to work on them. Maybes they would design them with some good service access!

Thank you for the video!

Great video, Thanks!

Love the videos! But pretty brave that be working around those open intake ports!😳. That always makes me nervous. I felt better when I saw you put rags in them.

With my own personal experience- and advice from ETCG Anything rubber, O-rings, seals, exhaust hanger isolators- Try a spritz of brake parts cleaner. The type of alcohol used makes rubbers & polymers very slippery for about 15 seconds, it then dries clean. You'll be surprised!

When I started working as a mechanic I bought what I could afford. I got the Craftsman Swivels for Metric and Standard. If you broke one, you could just go to the mall for lunch and pick up a replacement after eating. You didn't have to wait for the Tool Truck, but Craftsman does not hold up like Snap-On or some of the others.

WD is great, even use on snow shovel, makes snow slide right off

Working at a Ford dealer, I was changing a t-stat on a ranger (actually truck owner was son of Scotty, from the Original Star Trek (black sheep son) really cool guy.... Well, it took me 3, yes 3 brand new motorcraft t-stats, to find a good 1, right off the parts room shelf. So I'm not surprised nowadays, everything is made in China, or some other foreign country, without good QA

One state today made "right to repair" a law. The manufacturers must let shops or owners repair their own things, washers dryers cars etc. We all have to put pressure our state legislators to do the same. I am not hopeful that we can get any of our "representatives" in federal areas to do the same.

We just had this exact situation on our 2017 Cadillac XT 5 with 61k miles. Fours labor and almost $200 for the parts. Total bill was $932.25……to change a thermostat! We don’t feel we got ripped off by the mechanic, we got screwed by the designer.

Great job never seen such an awkward place to have a thermostat ill never understand engineer's mentality

Get clean rags in the intake ports. Just one save will make it worth doing 100 times.

The worst thing about a bus load of Engineers going over a cliff; one (1) seat was empty.

Excellent video 👍

5 hrs🤦‍♂️for a t stat😄I've never heard of that ! I've also never seen a t stat that looks like a cold air intake😄stuff like this , I throw wrenches better than I twist em💯I don't have the patience anymore😁thanks Kenny I'm always learning!

I will agree on the Snap On flex sockets. Matco is decent also.

I hear so many RU-vid mechanics refer to nuts and bolts by what socket fits them. That is not the bolt or nut size. An 8mm bolt usually takes a 12 or 14 socket. A 6mm bolt usually takes a 10mm socket. I’m sure you know the difference, but if you’re trying to teach beginners about wrenching, refer to the bolt either by its true size or by what socket it takes. After I retired as a Toyota master tech, I worked in the hardware department at Home Depot. Everyday, it seemed, I would have to school people on the the difference between bolt diameter and head size. That goes for metric and SAE.

What's your shop rate, $100 an hour? If so that makes that Tstat replacement, assuming the part is around $100, a $600 repair. Imagine what the dealer is charging for that if it's an out of warranty repair. I hate new cars.

that was good,thanks bro

…for a non-doctor, You sure have an lot of patience… ha ha ha Much Love and Hugs

I had a Pennsylvania inspection mechanic say I was crazy because I only buy like new used cars from the south . When I asked why he wouldn't say. I offered an explanation, because 1. They are not rusted out, and 2. All the design quarks like this have been found ! I can do research and find if the engineers were on drugs when they sent the blueprints to the Assembly line . That caddy is going to be a very common sight in the salvage yard. If someone asked me to replace a thermostat on one NOPE I don't care how much they want to pay. Take it to the dealership

It's not stupidity, per se. Its intentional. Why on earth do you think American manufacturers abandoned their 100 years of refinement?

The engineers forgot the thermostat does not work with hot air, only hot liquid, not to mention when you run it hot most of them will not read correctly due to the wax seal deformity, most people didn't pay attention to the ratio water/coolant, water boils quicker, coolant boils @ a higher temp. Luckily guys like you have the time to show how to change these "reverse engineered to fail parts" 👊👍 it's ALWAYS the engineer who says "that's not what happens we designed this way for a reason" especially when they can never tell you why lol

When I find those engineering nightmares Iwould like to get that person to come & do the repair I bet they would think twice about how to route the system on a new version /make of the system on future engine designs.Cheers. I would like to stick the part in a body cavity to reinforce my point.

My Lord Kenny, all of that for a thermostat. Crazy! The thermostat itself does not have a gasket? I missed it if it does, or just a machine fit. I don't understand the whole pipe thing when it isn't necessary, I would have been afraid of it being a different size or something. Maybe if the old one was leaking I guess. Nice work anyway, I think I'll keep my old car for a while, God Bless.

A very good reminder of why I have always called them 'Imagineers'. It explains their lack of connection with reality. You GO, Kenny!! 😠😱🤯💩🤡👍👍👍 (I was mildly surprised you didn't inspect the original tube, before *RPTI *Reverse Procedure To Install)

Thank you for your video. The engineer do not think on the mechanic that has to work on this car or any car. If they did they will design it better.

The reason why it is sold together has to do with aluminum oxidation of the housing along with chatter wear. On newer vehicles it is not an issue when the vehicle gets older the housing will oxidize and the pipe will have issues as well.

Those are always fun

I have a 1/4 drive impact set from matco. It came with short and deep standard and metric sockets in short swivel socket standard and metric

My current thought is that car manufacturers are designing engines poorly and also poor quality parts to help push everyone to EV cars. "See how terrible gas engines are?". I have not worked on a car with a t-stat like this but looking at it my first impression is that I could attempt to change things by removing the inner t-stat from the housing and then go to the other end of the pipe and make/find a fitting for a regular t-stat and see if you can somehow put it inline. Or perhaps locate it somewhere else where you can use a rubber hose on both sides of it. Something like that. Just a thought.

😎👍😎 Wow..that's a long way to go to replace a thermostat ...

Hey, Kenny. I would love to hear your thoughts on replacing rotors on a Gen 1 Colorado / Canyon where the rotors are BEHIND the hub assembly requiring you to remove the hub to get to them. Nightmare scenario in my book. Crazy engineers. lol

Do a landrover. The entire front end has to come off. Wheels, skirts, bumper cover, condenosr, rad and only then can you access it. The KV6 freelanders had the thermostat under the intake also. Fun.

"Let me stuff some rags in those holes" or let me put a tarp, cardboard, clean the floor below I tell myself every time I work on an car, motorcycle, whatever. I've lost to many nuts, screws, bolts in my lifetime and I want it to stop.

Had a Jeep patriot with I believe was a 2.4 four cyl. Overheated on way home from work. Needed thermostat went to parts store and they sold me this plastic pipe with a foot or so of plastic pipe and two!! Thermostats. Wasn’t to bad to install but I did it in garage so I could get to work next day.

It's hard to group all engineers in one category, like any profession/trade/ occupation, there are good and bad , but you sure did find a unique, time consuming task for changing the thermostat.

you cant just buy a $3.50 thermostat anymore. you have to buy the whole $55 thermostat housing because they are now integrated.

I call it job security for engineers. After spending nearly 30 years in an automotive dealership parts department I’ve said many times that if engineers had to spend time working on automobiles, especially in the field, they would design for easier repairs.

Great job Kenny, your videos are excellent!!!😊

It's a good thing that I was on a painkiller at the moment (chronic pain, c'est la vie). I almost flipped at this insane thermostat design. But then I saw that this entire engine appears designed as a compact package, to be shoved up from underneath to install it at the assembly plant. Designed to be thrown together quickly at the factory, not necessarily to come back apart for repair. Remind me to not buy a Cadillac. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Kenny, no need to apologize for the lighting. Show us what needs to be seen. We will learn. 😉

That thermostat has been done before, from the hose clamp that replaced the crimp on the inlet, or you need to remove it to change plugs. Shades of small MB engines, where pretty much every operation on the engine, including things like changing the oil, calls for you to "assume the service position", and drop 2 engine mounts to rotate it 30cm down on the front side. That pipe is sold along with thermostat most likely because that thin wall aluminium pipe is very likely to leak if the owner has been less than scrupulous on coolant changes, and there has been any sort of corrosion from leaks or water damming on the top of the valley there.

I did one of these last year, couldn't believe the thermostat had failed on a 4 year old car. I was flabbergasted. Most of the time if the car hits 20 years old, I would recommend changing the thermostat for maintenance. It is unbelievable how poorly built and unreliable these new cars are.

A lady came in our shop one day having drove her 4.2 Trailblazer with no radiator cap for 25 miles, after a inspection we determined she cooked the head gasket at the very least and probably the motor. It pays 14.5 to r+r the engine but it pays 31.5 to do the head gasket, crazy

I have a 2017 Cadillac XT5 took about an hour changing the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat

Working on these front drive cars is like changing a spark plug via the exhaust pipe!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent

I work with stationary equipment . I feel the engineers who design this stuff should work in the field for a few years first before being deemed qualified to design anything. It’s amazing how unrealistic the designs are especially these days. There is absolutely no thought about maintenance or ergonomics.

ANOTHER EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME"... FROM G arbage M otors.

This is why I stopped working on cars and why I own 91 siverado

HILARIOUS. People think engineering is about "pushing the envelope" or making things great. WRONG, far too often it is about making it as CHEAP as possible and still work. Putting the thermostat lines through the valley is very very popular on these little v6 motors. At least the starter is not in there. Doh!

Remember the days when you could replace the water pump and thermostat on a small block Chevy in 15 minutes...

Not 86 Toyota trucks. Never had a failed one. Only replaced the 28 year old one that was working when replacing the 28 year old failed OEM radiator. LOL.

i know this has nothing to do really with repair video but where did you get you head band repair work light. that will work very well doing my rc repairs on my rc cars and tanks and helicopter. the looks very bright. just what i need. my old 2000 dakota 2 wheel drive is easy to repair by sun light. not these new car where you cant even see the spark plugs. so far most repairs have been easy with her having almost 200 thousand miles on her with the oem 5.9 and auto trans. glad im retired and work on my rc hobby. thanks john in rockford IL.

Then there is the Chevy Colorado with the inline 5 cylinder. That's a fun one. This reminds me of the early v6 nissan

This is the main reason I got away from working on automobiles in 1975. If it was manufactured after '92 I don't touch it.

The 3.6 has always been trash. They made it worse. I was a GM technician from 1993-2011 and After seeing how they were changing I left. Less pay and much harder to work on. Warranty work was most of what I got due to certifications. I am a Corvette, Duramax, Alternative fuels and Electrical specialist. No fun. Little pay under warranty. So I took my 300+ certifications and left.

I’m not surprised it’s probably the same people who put the starter under the intake manifold

I can only imagine how much 'more dumb' this thermostat deal would be if it were a European car... 🙄

Kenny, those should be call out for what they are "Rube Goldberg designs." Ever heard of a Rube Goldberg machine? MIT has a contest for students to practice making machines like the ones Rube Goldberg made. Old cartoons had them as well. That's no fun, sorry it's hard to type I had laughed so hard when you showed us that part. Guess car manufactures are having a contest like MIT does. Just silly to have it that way. But then the 3.6L kinda has the Rube Goldberg vibe going with those timing chains etc.. in there.

We do a design. After we get a number of prototypes built we start to understand better what we have. We tell management we need to change some things to make it easier to service and to fix a weakness in the design. But it took 2 years to get from the crude prototypes to an actual build where the problems were revealed. BUT management tells us we are too far into quality testing and if we change even the slightest thing quality testing will have to start all over. And then the next year we tell management that in the new version we need to fix some of these things we pointed out last year. BUT again they say we have a working product now and to make anything other the most minimal change is to risk that the product has more failures. Finally we get assigned to another project and engineering changes to that first product are never going to happen. And here's the big problem. It takes 3 to 5 years to get a new product ready. There is an enormous amount of testing. A car radio takes 3 to 5 years. Notice that every car radio has the technology from 3 years ago or even longer. And that radio is put in the car for about a five year span before a new updated version is released. End result. I bought a 2010 CRV. The GPS and Bluetooth were really outdated. In 2011 Honda released a new version. So that meant that I had gotten a version of the CRV radio that was at the end of it's 5 year cycle. So it must have first started in 2006. But that means that the design had to be started by 2003 or earlier. So in 2010 I got a CRV that had a navi radio that was essentially circa 2003. And boy did it show.

It would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall during that design process.....hows & why & discussions about......wacky

Need to send those sang engineers a case of bud light! Lol maybe they will start thinking if others!

I built the Durango in Newark Delaware Chrysler plant and the engineering department almost never came around to look how to make things accessible for repair and every one of these idiots would say well it looked good on paper.....

Reminds me of the Caravan water pump pipe below the intake. My back still hurts lol