How to Install an Aurora Thermostat
by Tara KimballThe thermostat in your Aurora’s cooling system controls the flow of coolant through the engine. When the engine begins to get warm, the thermostat opens up to allow more coolant to flow through the radiator hoses, regulating the engine temperature. A bad thermostat may stick or not properly read the temperature, causing your engine to overheat and potentially resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. Change the thermostat at home in minutes to save a more substantial cost if it fails completely and damages the engine.
Step 1
Raise the hood of the Aurora. Loosen and remove the radiator cap. Position a drain pan beneath the radiator drain plug on the driver side of the radiator.
Step 2
Loosen the drain plug on the bottom of the radiator with a wrench. Drain enough coolant from the radiator to drop the level below the upper radiator hose. Tighten the radiator drain plug with a wrench.
Step 3
Trace the upper radiator hose to the thermostat housing on the opposite end from the radiator. Remove the hose clamp on the thermostat housing with a flat-bladed screwdriver. Disconnect the hose from the Aurora’s thermostat housing. Remove the two mounting bolts from the housing with a wrench.
Step 4
Remove the old thermostat from the housing and discard it. Scrape the gasket remnants from the Aurora’s thermostat housing with a putty knife. Wipe the housing with a clean rag. Insert the new thermostat into the housing, aligned in the same way as the one you removed.
Step 5
Place the new gasket on the thermostat housing. Replace the housing on the mounting point. Insert the bolts to secure the thermostat housing. Torque the thermostat housing bolts to 80 inch-pounds with your torque wrench.
Step 6
Attach the radiator hose to the thermostat housing. Replace and tighten the hose clamp with a flat-bladed screwdriver to secure the hose to the thermostat housing
Step 7
Add coolant to the Aurora’s radiator until the level returns to the full mark. Replace the radiator cap. Start the engine to check for leaks.
References
- “2001 Oldsmobile Aurora Factory Service Manual”; General Motors Corporation; 2000
Things You'll Need
- Drain pan
- Wrench set
- Flat-bladed screwdriver
- Putty knife
- Clean, dry rag
- Torque wrench
- Engine coolant
Writer Bio
Tara Kimball is a former accounting professional with more than 10 years of experience in corporate finance and small business accounting. She has also worked in desktop support and network management. Her articles have appeared in various online publications.
