Need to change my thermostat on 05 Maggie SXT 3.5L. I can see the housing after removing the air box but there is a metal tube running from off the housing and goes somewhere. Does this metal tube need to be disconnected under the car somewhere or can the housing be pulled back far enough to replace the thermostat ? I think the thermostat is stuck in the open position and the car will warm when setting parked but temp gauge goes all the way down to zero while driving. It still puts out some warm air but not hot.

Has anyone changed one out before and if so, what all has to be done to change it?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. It's driving me nuts worrying about it.

 

Excerpt from service manual:

3.5L
1. Disconnect negative cable.
WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE PRESSURE CAP WITH THE SYSTEM HOT AND UNDER PRESSURE BECAUSE SERIOUS BURNS FROM COOLANT CAN OCCUR.
2. Drain cooling system.
3. Remove radiator lower hose from thermostat housing.
4. Remove bypass hose.
5. Remove bolts.
6. Remove thermostat housing and thermostat from engine.

Surprised it hasn't thrown a code. Mine did when the thermostat went out on my 5.7L.

 

The easiest way to get to the thermostat on a 3.5 is from the top actually. Take off the drive belt and the radiator fan assembly.
Remove the power steering pump bolts off and lay the pump out of the way. You will have a wide-open shot at the t-stat housing. You may have to use a pair of long hose clamp pliers to get to the clamps from the bottom.

 

Yes, I did get a code because of the thermostat Draftingmonkey. When I took the car to my mechanic, he took the air box out to see the housing and said that the A/C looked like it would need to be moved out of the way to.

If the power steering pump is moved out of the way, can you leave the A/C compressor bolted up ?

What I would like to know is what is the metal housing tube connected to at the other end and how do you remove it. Looks like if you disconnect the other end (on the bottom end) then you could pull the housing up and over enough to put the thermostat in. Does this sound right TNtech?

Want to thank you guys for all the help on this. I might tackle it myself so long as I know what to expect. Only have one car so I can't end up stuck.

 

Yes, correct. The little tube runs towards the back. There is a hose and clamp on it about 6-8 inches back I think. I have to go below to get the clamp. If you have some 1/4 drive wobble sockets you can get to the t-stat housing bolts from the top w/ the PS pump removed. If it's one of those type t-stats thats "pinned" in you have to take the whole housing out.

 

Assuming it is pinned and the whole housing has to come out, do you have to take it out the bottom or can you pull it up from the top after that hose clamp is taken off? If the whole thing has to come out, do you have to loosen anything other than the P/S pump?