Where is the thermostat located on a 1998 Chevy Cavalier Z24?

Answer 1

It's hard to get to, but if you look at the front of the engine it is beneath the intake manifold (2.4). It is right on the block, and if you don't like tight places, it's not the job for you. It is right on the front of the block, above your oil filter etc. I know what your thinking, and I wish it was up high on the radiator too.

The answer above is incorrect. The thermostat is not very hard to change.First remove the heat shield from the EXAUST manifold, from the firewall side of the engine(3 screws). Get a ratchet, 10" extention and a 10mm socket.Remove the shield. Drain antifreez into a CLEEN oil drain contaner so you can reuse the fluid. On the bottom of the engine behind the bottom pully(on the oil pan)unbolt that flat looking metal tube(1 bolt).The tube will be black unless someone painted it. The thermostat is at the end of that black pipe where it bends up. Now from the top look down through the EXAUST manifold,you will see 2 screws on that black pipe.Those 2 screws hold the thermostat in. Remove them with 8mm socket, separate it there and "POOF" your thermostat.The thermo will only fit in one way,spring up. ABOVE that is the water pump. I agree it is a pain to do,but, that is all I agree with.The water pump on a GM 2.4L DOHC engine is between the engine and the firewall underneeth the EXAUST manifold.Put a floor jack underneeth the engine to support the weight of the engine.REMOVE the exhaust manifold from the car. Remove the drive belt,top engine mount on the passenger side and the coolant fill jug. Then remove the engine lifting bracket(3 big bolts). Then remove the passenger front wheel and splash guard so you can get to the bottom pully.Block the pully from turning counter clockwise when you loosen the crankpully bolt. IMPORTANT..DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE BACKWARD WHILE REMOVING THE CRANK BOLT!! Slack will get in the timing chain and mess up your timing. LOWER the floor jack just enough to use your pully puller to remove the crank pully. NOW, you should see a endless number of screws going around the edge of the flat cover and some in the middle of it where there is a hole(where the 3 big bolts were).Remove ALL of those screws with a 10mm socket and/or wrench, whatever it takes to get them out,but get them all. NOW.. the VERY important stuff.After the cover has been removed, barly put the pully back on so you can rotate the engine by hand CLOCKWISE...The crankshaft keyway should be pointed up(there is a dot mark) and 2 LITTLE HOLES on the cam gears pointing close to 6 o'clock position. Get two 8mm bolts and insert them into small holes in the intake cam gear and the exhuast cam gear.If you look through those little holes you will see they must go through the gear and into a hole in the housing behind the gear.THAT WILL HOLD THINGS IN TIMING. Now remove the chain tentioner,it is spring loaded so be careful or you could be looking everyehere for small parts that went flying.Now take the chain off the water pump sprocket.You now have to go behind the chain housing and unbolt the bolts holding on the water pump housing. The water pump and housing consist of 4 gaskets and need to be tightend is a special way to prevent leaks. www.autozone.com has FREE online repair manuals, you should check these out before atemping this. Good Luck