How do you replace the thermostat on a 2001 Chevy Venture?

Answer 1

everyone should have a manual for their vehicle, and the library should have a professional shop manual available in the reference section for FREE to make copies of...read up and fix like a pro!! ) Dave

Dave, if we had a manual at home, we wouldn't be asking for help...now would we?

The thermostat is beneath the throttle body & behind the exhaust crossover pipe.

It's a ridiculously big job considering it's only a thermostat you're trying to replace:

1) Remove the air cleaner & duct assembly.

2) Drain coolant (rad drain plug on bottom corner, driver's side) below thermostat level.

3) Remove the thermostat bypass pipe. This pipe starts on top of water pump (front- passenger corner of engine) and goes along front cylinder bank, turning towards back across the driver's side of engine. there are about three bolts & three pipe clamps to remove.

4) Remove the exhaust crossover pipe heat shield bolts. There are two bolts in front & two in back. Remove exhaust crossover pipe heat shield. (These bolts may be frozen & decomposed because of heavy oxidation due to high heat, good luck)

5) Remove the exhaust crossover pipe; 3 bolts at each end.

6) Remove radiator hose from thermostat housing, remove thermostat housing & get that sucker.

7) Clean everything & reassemble.

NOTE: when filling cooling system, don't forget to let the air out using the (2) bleeders; near water pump & thermostat housing.

Edit Note for #3 #4 and #5 number 3, top of water pump pipe is held on by one bolt. take that off, on the throttle body, their is a nut holding it on, you must take the throttle body off, so this comes off anyways, this allows Evan leway to move it out of the way. as for 4 and 5, you don't need to remove the cross over pipe or anything else if ur using a wrench. worked for me keeping it in