How Do I Change the Thermostat on a Saab 9000?

The Saab 9000 was manufactured between 1985 and 1998. Because of its age, you should expect the thermostat to fail at some point, since it is a mechanical part prone to wearing out due to the constant heating and cooling cycles to which it was exposed over a long period of time. A common issue with the Saab is a lack of heat being produced inside of the car during the winter. Installing the proper thermostat remedies the problem.

Instructions

1

Place the front end of the Saab 9000 on ramps to gain access to the underside of the vehicle. Place a 3-gallon bucket under the lower radiator hose. Remove the clamp that holds the hose onto the radiator with a screwdriver and pull the hose off the radiator inlet. Allow all of the fluid to drain into the bucket. Slide the hose back onto the inlet and secure the hose with the clamp.

2

Trace the upper radiator hose to the location where it connects to the top of the engine. The hose connects to the thermostat housing. Remove the clamp that holds the hose onto the housing with a screwdriver. Push the hose out of the way.

3

Disconnect the wiring harness that connects the idle control valve to the electrical system by removing the 10 mm bolts that hold the bracket to the thermostat housing. Remove the 4 mm bolt that holds the fuel pressure regulator onto the thermostat housing. Depending on the year of the vehicle you have, various other accessories may be attached to the thermostat housing. Remove them.

4

Remove the two 12 mm bolts securing the thermostat housing to the engine. Pull upward on the housing to break it loose from the mating surface of the engine. Pry the old thermostat out of the hole in the engine with a screwdriver.

5

Clean the mating surfaces of the thermostat housing and the engine with a wire brush and a towel to remove any old gasket material.

6

Place the new thermostat into the hole in the thermostat gasket. The end of the thermostat with the spring on it goes into the gasket first. Place the thermostat into the hole in the engine with the spring end inside of the engine.

7

Place the thermostat housing onto the engine and secure it into place with the 12 mm bolts. If the old bolts were corroded or rounded over, replace them with new ones.

8

Reattach the accessories to the thermostat housing using the original bolts. If the bolts are corroded or rounded over, use new ones.

9

Reattach the radiator hose using the old clamp.

10

Loosen the bleeder valve by holding the locking nut on top of the thermostat housing with an 11 mm wrench. Turn the valve open with a second 11 mm wrench. Drain a 50/50 mix of radiator fluid and distilled water into the radiator. Close the bleeder valve on the thermostat housing.