How do you remove the thermostat from a 2003 3.4 Chevy Impala?

Answer 1

I just did the tstat and radiator and, let me put it this way, I learned a lot. I also found that removing the throttle body is the easiest method. At least this way you can get a couple of fingers of each hand on the bottom bolt of the tstat housing which is crucial because it's not easy to get it started especially if you can't really see it and can only get one or two fingers of one hand on it (when the TB is in place). Even though the bottom bolt hole is slotted, this is only beneficial if the tstat installed does not project out very far, in which case you can leave the bottom bolt partly screwed it and lift the tstat housing away from the tstat and pull it out - with the TB in place. I know because I did it with the old tstat in there which did not project out very far. The new tstat I got from Advanced Auto was much "taller" - it stuck out more. So I was unable to just slip the housing in over it since the exhaust shield is in the way. That old one was an STC, 44mm, 195 degree - that's what was stamped on it. With TB in place and bolt left partly screwed in, it would take a while to wrench it back in since you can't move your wrench through much of an arc as you tighten. A couple of notes: On separating the small hoses from the black pipe - first loosen the small bolt that holds it in the head at the front, right side of engine. Then pull it out of the hole. This will give you some wiggle room with the pipe in removing the hoses and to pull the pipe down a bit to get at the bottom bolt of the TB. I found a small needle-nose vise-grip very useful to twist the hoses a bit to loosen them as well as to reposition other hose clamps. Also, before you reconnect these two hoses, make sure you have inserted the bottom bolt of the throttle body. The bracket between the hoses connects to that.