How do you replace the thermostat located on a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1L?

Answer 1

Drain fluid. Follow the upper radiator hose to the engine to locate the thermostat. Remove the hose from the fitting. Remove the bolts from the thermostat cover. Remember how it is installed. remove thermostat and clean off the old gasket and sealant from the housing cover. If you have a rubber gasket around the thermostat replace it with the new thermostat. Some cars need RTV sealant when you replace it, you will know if yours does when you remove the thermostat.

actually, it's so much more complicated than that. the procedure described above is correct, but you can't get to that little sucker very well. yes, follow the upper radiator hose, it's on the driver's side of the radiator, right near the coolant reservoir tank. you'll see where the hose connects to a metal pipe. the pipe has a brass bleeder screw on top of it. then follow the pipe to where it connects to your engine. your exhaust cover will be in the way. you have remove a bunch of other stuff to get to it. the t-stat housing sits kind of sideways on the engine block, and you can only see one bolt if you're looking down at it from underneath the hood. forgive me if I'm wrong, but i'd assume that since you're asking how to change the t-stat, that you're not real mechanically inclined....and normally, changing your t-stat doesn't take a lot of mechanical inclination. alas, the 1998 grand prix se 3.1L is a "special" car. call around and take it to the cheapest mechanic. i have this exact same model car and it cost just under $70.00. in my opinion, GM really screwed people with this whole deal.