Thermostat location

[Agquadon]

I have a 1992 Pontiac Grand AM SE 3.3 Liter. Need help locating the thermostat. Would it be where the top radiator hose connects to? It seems to be covered up with a metal covering that connects to the top radiator hose. But not sure if it's inside that or not. But we're kinda sure it's in there because if you squeeze that hose rapidly, you can hear the thermostat's jiggle valve. But wanna make sure that's where it's at.

[4kQuad]

That is where there at in 90+ % of cars made I've seen. The 2.4 is strange. But yea, I would look there.

So that the stat cover don't break when your done.

loosen one side JUST A LITTLE, then loosen the other side just a little. Do that a couple times till the bolts are loose. When you go to tighten it back up. Tighten one side a little, then the other, than back to the other side and so on.

That cap is pot metal and has gotten hot and cold many times. so you need to keep equal pressure on both sides of the cap. Loosening one side then the other will allow all the thesion to rest on one side of the cap then the other. It will cause a stress line you can't see, but will show up in a few days as a spraying leak.

Take your time and you should be fine.

[Agquadon]

This is Agquadon's friend, KC. He's not near a computer very much. So he's been calling me and decribing what's going on. I hope you're all cool with that. I'm not sure when he'll be near a computer again. Anyway. He's been trying to get to the thermostat housing and he says there's a bracket there that's in the way that seems impossible to remove. I'm not sure what he's talking about. I wish I would've snapped a picture of his engine the last time he was over. He seems to think that he can't remove the thermostat without removing a few other things. Just seems kind of odd. He has the worst luck with cars. It seems like something goes wrong in every car he sits in. I'm pretty good at keeping my own vehicle in top running shape, which is an 84 Toyota Van. I'd like to eventually learn how to keep a Grand AM in shape as well so he doesn't have to fork over a lot of money to a mechanic. It looks like a PITA to work on, but I know there's a way to outsmart it. :D Thanks.

[4kQuad]

I don't think anyone cares who posts.

like he/you said follow the top hose from the raditor to where in goes over a metal thing that bolts to the motor. Most stat-caps have two bolts on them. Its kind of a ovel shape with bolt on either end of the ovel. I have not seen the motor he is working on so I can not say the bracket is nothing. But as a rule, the stat cap just bolts to the motor by the two bolts.

[Agquadon]

Ok. He called me to let me know he got the new thermostat successfully installed and the engine's running at normal operating temperature. He also had to install a new heater core since his old one started leaking. But at least he's back on the road.