How to Change the Thermostat on a 1995 Civic

In 1973, Honda released its now popular Civic, a compact yet roomy vehicle. In 1991, Honda released the fifth generation for the Civic, giving the body a rounded style for the first time. The 1995 Civic had three engines available, all of which were 1.5 liters. The 1.5-liter's output ranged from a lowly 70 horsepower to a spunky 125 horsepower. A thermostat regulated the flow of coolant through the Civic's 1.5-liter engine, which helped regulate the engine's temperature. When the thermostat fails, the Civic may either overheat or over-cool. Both symptoms are equally bad, and replacing the thermostat is the only way to rectify the problem.

Instructions

1

Open the radiator cap. Raise the front of the Civic with a floor jack. Position jack stands under the Civic's subframe and lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.

2

Position a drain pan under the radiator drain plug. Remove the drain plug with a ratchet and socket. Allow all of the coolant to drain from the radiator. Hand-tighten the drain plug into the radiator, and tighten it with a ratchet and socket.

3

Slide the drain pan, so it is centered under the engine. Raise the Civic off the jack stands, using a floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the Civic onto the ground.

4

Trace the upper radiator hose until you locate the metal housing connecting the hose to the engine -- this is the thermostat housing. Press the locking button on the engine coolant temperature wiring harness and pull it from the sensor.

5

Remove the two thermostat housing-to-engine bolts, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the thermostat housing from the engine -- exposing the thermostat below it. Pull the thermostat from the engine.

6

Scrape the mating surface on the thermostat housing and engine with a plastic gasket scraper to remove any debris. Press the new gasket -- included with the new thermostat -- around the edge of the thermostat, with the notch on the gasket lining up with the jiggle valve on the thermostat.

7

Place the thermostat into the engine with the spring side of the thermostat going into the engine and the jiggle valve on the top of the thermostat. Set the thermostat housing back onto the engine and hand-tighten the thermostat housing-to-engine bolts. Torque the thermostat housing-to-engine bolts to 7 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

8

Press the wiring harness into the ECT sensor until it clicks into place.

9

Fill the radiator to the bottom of its filler neck with 50-50 premixed Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant. Loosen the coolant bleeder valve on top of the engine, using a combination wrench, and observe as coolant starts bubbling from the valve. Tighten the valve once the bubbles stop and only coolant flows from the valve. Add 50-50 premixed Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant to the radiator until the coolant level reaches the base of the radiator filler neck.

10

Set the radiator cap on the radiator and tighten it to its first stop -- do not tighten it all the way. Start the Civic's engine, and allow it to run until the cooling fan turns on-and-off twice. Check for leaks from the thermostat housing while the engine runs.

11

Shut the engine down and check the level in the radiator. Refill the radiator to the base of its filler neck with 50-50 premixed Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant, if needed. Pull the coolant reservoir lid off and add 50-50 premixed Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant until the level reaches the "Max" line on the reservoir. Press the lid back onto the reservoir. The Civic holds about 1 gallon of 50-50 premixed Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant.

12

Pull the drain pan from under the Civic. Take the old coolant to a used automotive fluid recycling center for disposal. Many auto parts stores take old coolant free of charge.