Yesterday I went to advance auto parts to get a thermostat for my wife's 2000 Honda Accord LX 4cyl 5 speed. Their computer did not even list a thermostat for the 2000, so he looked at a 1999 Accord and got me that one. Same engine right?

Last night I got out in the garage to put the thing in. I drained some antifreeze and removed the couple bolts holding it in place. When I looked at the thermostat I pulled out it was the same sizes and all, but the spring setup and all looked all different. After milling over the situation for a while I just put it in and bolted everything back up and took it for a long ride. Everything worked fine, and hopefully by time Donna gets home from work today the check engine light will not have come back on.

Should the thermostats have looked so much different?

The thermostat I got said 180 degree, the one I pulled out said 78 degrees, when I do the conversion between fahrenheit and celcius 180 and 78 are close, but not the same temperature. Should this be an issue?

 

Well, the stock thermostat for the accord is set at 178 degrees, and you replaced it with a 180 degree one.. That's fine. The car will just run hotter. A hot engine is a loose engine. A loose engine is a happy engine. (it will last longer) -You could also add a cooler thermostat, like a 160, or an adjustable one, so that it would keep the engine cooler, suppling it with more fuel, and a bit more power. -But you chance wearing parts out prematurely. -And for them looking different, it could be that they are made by different companies, and also the new one is hotter and probably has a beefier spring on it. You should be fine! Just check your gauge periodically!!

 

you'll be fine. its the same engine between the two cars, and its not that much of a temp. difference. just tell her to watch the gauge periodically to make sure.

 

i want to know how the thermostat kicked on the check engine light ... never heard of this problem ...please let us know more...

 

The code I pulled when I got a check engine light was a code 87, I posted that on here and someone told me that meant "cooling system malfunction." I checked and my fluid level was full and the fans turned on and off as they were suppose to. I suspected the thermostat and then someone on here told me that a code 87 usually meant the thermostat needed replacing.

While replacing it last night I see there is a sesnor/sending unit right in front of the thermostat, from my assumption that sensor monitors the temperature of the coolant on that side of the thermostat and if the temperature doesn't reflect the normal changes of fluid being periodically circulated through the engine then the computer will determine that to mean that the thermostat is not working correctly.

Latest news, my wife drove to work without the CEL coming back on. I've told her to keep her eyes on the temp gauge, but so far so good. As long as she makes it back home without the light coming on I think I won't be worried anymore.