Chris Kueny

While replacing the thermostat, and replacing the coolant, and fluching the coolant to replace the coolant, I decided I needed to replace the plastic stone shield that must be removed to access the lower radiator hose. I can't find the part on any of the online sources. BTW, which is the best online parts source. Chris Kueny

Thanks, will flush it thoroughly. I removed a plastic panel to access the thermostat. It is like a stone shield for the front underside of the car. Mine is pretty cracked (after I ran it over) and I want to replace it, but can't find a part #. Any ideas what this peice is called or what the part # is? Thanks as always. Chris Kueny

So I'm going to the dealer today to get the right stuff. I will pull the bottom hose and remove the thermostat, put the housing back on and the hose, fill with clear water, run for a while, drain and put the right stuff in. I'm just glad the thermostat is such an easy job. BTW, my wife said not to worry, she said 'Orange is used a lot in the fall.' Ah, to apply fashion sense to chemicals. Chris Kueny

RESOLUTION: I changed the thermostat with one from the dealership. Old thermostat failed to open in boiling water, once the new one was installed and it was all buttoned up, it quickly got half way between 1/4 and half way to hot, and stuck there no matter what I did. Let me add bullet dodging to my resume. Only problem was the coolant I got at the McParts was for aluminum radiators, but the damned stuff was orange. So, should I re-flush and put in some other kind? I guess the archives are all over on this, but I'll still ask. Chris Kueny

do not let it get anywhere near the red anymore if you can help it. heat kills motors. the gaskets and seals and other items will not treat you kindly in years to come if the motor is run hot. failure of items later in life can be attributed to scenarios like this. have you had any coolant loss? how many miles? water pump could be going south as well. they often will leak prior to complete failure. looks for drops/wetness under the water pump area - close to the lower radiator hose and the thermostat. No coolant loss, no coolant in oil. 50,000 miles, mobil 1 since about 12,000 miles. Tomorrow I will put it up and look underneath. I have the thermostat and rubber gasket from the dealer and will pull the old thermostat and test it. Turning on the heater does drop the temp, and it blows hot. Chirs Kueny

Good day everyone, and thank you in advance for the help. Our 2002 4-cly Outback got close to the red yesterday, a cool day, stop and go traffic, both fans running. I had my wife turn on heat and she made it home without the temp going to the red. In the driveway, it rose up close to the red. Took it out on a country road, turned off heat and put on A/C, and gunned it. Temp came right down. Back in the driveway, goes back up. One thing I noticed is that the bottom radiator hose seemed cool, top hose hot to the touch. Also, I barely cracked the radiator cap and fluid gurgled into the overflow tank. If this is a thermostat, as I suspect, where it it, under the fuel injector runners? Yikes! Any tricks to changing it? Thanks Chris Kueny Cayce, SC