How to Change the Thermostat in a Chevy Impala

The Chevy Impala debuted in 1958 as "a prestige car within the reach of the average" American. The model sold well until 1986 in favor of the Caprice. Chevy re-introduced the Impala in the mid-1990s as a family sport sedan with a Corvette-derived engine and classy monochromatic color scheme. Since then, it has held court as Chevy's full-size sedan. The 2002 Impala offered the 3.1L and 3.8L engines. Follow the information about installation of a new thermostat in those models.

Instructions

1

Disconnect battery ground cable from the terminal. Drain the cooling system so that the level of coolant is below the level of the thermostat.

2

Remove the radiator hose. Use care when detaching the electrical connections to the sensors mounted on the thermostat housing.

3

Take off the thermostat housing bolts and lift off the thermostat housing. Pull out the thermostat and throw away the gasket.

4

Clean all the thermostat components. Use a thread cutting tap to clean any dirt or old sealer from the threaded holes in the manifold.

5

Set the thermostat on the intake manifold so that it's properly positioned. Set the new gasket over the thermostat. Lubricate the bolts with clean engine oil. Tighten the bolts to 18-20 foot/pounds.

6

Reattach the radiator hose to the thermostat housing. Fill the system with the appropriate type and amount of coolant.

7

Attach the negative battery cable to the terminal. Start the engine and allow it to run for several minutes, then check for leaks.