1991 mazda protege 323 1.8L, 285000 km. where exactly is the thermostat located? can i do it?
Dec 11, 2006 at 9:46 AM
1991 Mazda Protege Thermostat Location Fix
RICKJMARTIN
- MEMBER
- 1 POST
Of course you can, its not rocket science.Follow the hoses from the radiator to the engine.One of the hoses will clamp onto a small housing, that is where the t-stat is. Good Luck
Dec 11, 2006 at 11:34 PM
[quote:38384eca4c="rickjmartin"]1991 mazda protege 323 1.8L, 285000 km. where exactly is the thermostat located? can i do it?[/quote:38384eca4c]
When you do find it-and the Stat has a jiggle valve make sure you position it right and please! dont put it in backwards.
When you do find it-and the Stat has a jiggle valve make sure you position it right and please! dont put it in backwards.
Dec 12, 2006 at 7:45 PM
The t-stat is located on the upper rad hose on the cyl head just under the dist.
Be carful removing the bolt and nut holding the housing in, the bolt is hard to get onto with the coolant sensor in the housing, maybe take the sensor out before starting.
Cosmo....Mazda Tech
Be carful removing the bolt and nut holding the housing in, the bolt is hard to get onto with the coolant sensor in the housing, maybe take the sensor out before starting.
Cosmo....Mazda Tech
Dec 12, 2006 at 10:16 PM
in replacing the thermostat it is easier if you first drive up on ramps or jack up the front end with 2 jacks. Drain water out of radiator (simple drain plug bottom of radiator); remove the coolant sensor and radiator hose close to the thermostat. Be careful not to twist off the wire when you remove this (which i learned the hardway). In removing the cooling sensor it takes a SHORT Open ended 17mm wrench. The thermostat requires a 12mm ratchet. It is a lot easier if you remove the radiator hose near the thermostat as well. When you get it out this was the most difficult part for me (again i learned the hardway....clean the old gasket off the engine & housing as clean as possible. It is very difficult to clean that part below the distributor and very hard to get to. Especially if you have large hands like i do. Anyway hope this helps. It's a great vehicle...I'm getting about 30m.p.g.!
Jul 7, 2012 at 7:33 PM
rick were you able to get that t-stat changed with all this help? I can see about trying to locate some images if not.
Jul 19, 2012 at 6:55 PM
Suggested Repair
The thermostat is in the housing on the upper radiator hose at the cylinder head, just under the distributor. Drain the radiator, carefully remove the coolant sensor with a short 17 mm wrench and disconnect the hose, then remove the housing with a 12 mm ratchet. Clean both gasket surfaces thoroughly and install the thermostat with the jiggle valve correctly positioned, not backwards.
Conversation Summary
The owner of a 1991 Mazda Protege 323 1.8L asked where the thermostat is and whether it can be replaced. Experts said it is in the housing where the upper radiator hose meets the cylinder head under the distributor, and that the job is doable. They advised draining the coolant, removing the sensor and hose, using care with the housing fasteners, cleaning the old gasket, and installing the thermostat in the correct orientation with the jiggle valve positioned properly.