How to Fix a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am's Thermostat

If it seems as if your Pontiac Grand Am is always overheating, or at least running hot, the thermostat is the likely culprit. The thermostat is also to blame if the heat is not working in your car. That is because the thermostat is not opening properly when the engine reaches operating temperature. A thermostat is not expensive and the repair only takes about 20 minutes. Therefore, there is no reason to spend hard-earned money on high-labor costs at a repair shop.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery terminal using a wrench to loosen the nut.

2

Loosen the clamp on the radiator hose at the thermostat housing using a screwdriver. Pull the hose off the thermostat housing.

3

Remove the mounting bolts from the thermostat housing using a wrench, and pull the thermostat housing and the thermostat away from the Pontiac's engine. Clean any remaining gasket material away from the mounting surface with the scraper.

4

Insert the new thermostat into the Grand Am's engine with the built-in thermostat spring going inside the engine. Place a new gasket and the thermostat housing on the engine and tighten the mounting bolts with the wrench. Connect the radiator hose to the thermostat housing and tighten the clamp with a screwdriver.

5

Connect the battery terminal and tighten the nut with the wrench.