I just took my lunch break and noticed that my car wasn't putting out any heat, so I look at my temperature guage and it was quickly rising, eventually getting almost all the way to the top! So I shut it down and popped the hood, the upper radiator hose was pretty hot. My guess is that the thermostat is stuck shut. I'm not going to be able to make it the 15 miles back home, so I might have to change it out here in the parking lot. I don't have my Hanes manual with me, so can someone tell me approximately where the thermostat is on a d16y8? Anything else that could be causing this problem? Any help GREATLY appreciated.

 

I hate to tell you this but it has been my experience that headgaskets tend to go more in those cars than thermostats. Pull your dipstick and see if the oil looks ok on the end or if it looks like coffee, if it does your headgasket is gone for sure. Also remove your rad cap when the car is cold and check to see if there's any oil in there, if so, bad news. If your coolant is quite low and there are no obvious leaks, again bad news... Just check these things first.

 

If all that checks out, your lower radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing. There are two 10 mm and its off. If it is stuck just pull it out and put the gasket that goes around the thermostat back in to get it home. Good luck

 

The thermostat is a breeze to change, other then the mess. Just like the previous post take the tens off take the thermostat out put the cap back on(with gasket) and go home. When you get another one put it in. It might not be good to drive along time without it depending on your tempatures, it will take a bit longer then normal to get the engine to operating temp.

Jim