Dodge caravan overheating | The Car Community | Page 1

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:00 AM

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I changed the thermostat on a 2019 dodge caravan and now it overheats, I mixed green and red coolant cause I didn’t drain it properly, the gauge stays in the middle when I have the heat up but for example I was going uphill the other day and it overheated

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And it just doesn’t wanna take coolant down the radiator quickly, I’ve just been pouring it in the reservoir and waiting for it to suck coolant out of there the n refill it

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:07 AM

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a

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:07 AM

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You'll probably have to bleed it while the car is running

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I've worked on about nine billion 3.6s and that's what I've done every time

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:08 AM

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Gotcha

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:08 AM

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Turn the heat on full blast and go until air stops coming out

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:09 AM

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Well I’ll try it I guess, but I’ve opened the bleeder valve when the cars hot in idle and the radiator just keeps pouring out coolant

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:09 AM

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Wait so you have bled it?

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:09 AM

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Yeah

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:09 AM

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wait

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bleeder valve?

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:09 AM

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nimble ridge bleeder valve?

Yes

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On the thermostat housing

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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i was just making sure

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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Yes, the thermostat comes with the bleeder valve on the housing

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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What brand thermostat did you buy

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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You have to buy the whole housing on this system not just the thermostat

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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Yep

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It's one part

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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Duralast, motorad

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From autozone

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:10 AM

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did the coolant look like one of these

4686d1348084489-overheating-dex-cool-turns-orange-red-coolant-orange-red.png

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:11 AM

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Yes

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I would say closer to the second one

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:11 AM

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yeh thats orange coolant

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:11 AM

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So zeta, there’s no way the coolant sludged up?

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:11 AM

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Orange is correct in these is it not?

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:11 AM

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it is yes

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you used this, right?

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:12 AM

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Yes

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:12 AM

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Should be fine

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:12 AM

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yep

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:12 AM

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Ok so most likely I need to bleed it more

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:12 AM

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Did you get a solid stream of coolant out of the bleeder

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:12 AM

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Orange Coolant is OAT, prestone universal can be mixed with OAT

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:13 AM

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And you say keep the hot air on until there’s no hot air? And yes after it bubbled it did stream

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:13 AM

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Hmmmm

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How bad does it overheat

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:13 AM

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you did use 50/50, right? or you mixed concentrate with water?

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:14 AM

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Well when I tried to flush it with prestone I used distilled and drained it. I didn’t use 50 50

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Can we rule out a blown head gasket or no?

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:15 AM

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if you were having overheating issues due to a blown head gasket you'd be seeing white smoke, and disappearing coolant

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:15 AM

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jagged delta Can we rule out a blown head gasket or no?

Does the cooling system pressurize quickly

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:15 AM

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Gotcha, wdym pressurize? If you asking if the coolant rises out of the radiator, it does quickly

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:16 AM

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immediately after turning the engine on?

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:16 AM

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And like I said previously I’m relying on the reservoir sucking coolant and filling the reservoir

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Well idk about immediately, but after a few minutes

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:17 AM

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wait

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:17 AM

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After a few minutes is normal

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:17 AM

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the 2019 reservoir isnt pressurized

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:17 AM

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No it just has the tube going to the radiator and has a cap

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Just a plastic cap

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:18 AM

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if you had a blown head gasket it would be overflowing the reservoir

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:18 AM

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Gotcha

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:18 AM

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at least, if it was blown into a coolant passage

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:18 AM

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It’s not good to rely on filling the reservoir right?

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 2:19 AM

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If you fill the radiator and cap it as soon as the thermostat opens and it starts trying to dump coolant then it should be fine

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:19 AM

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It doesn’t do that, every 5 minutes I have to keep adding coolant, it only takes a handful of coolant every time

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:20 AM

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well then keep adding coolant

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:20 AM

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Wait I misread that

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:20 AM

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and make sure to cut it 50/50 with distilled water

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:20 AM

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Yeah I’ll try that tonight

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But the coolant isn’t a 50 50 mix

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Its prediluted

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:21 AM

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??

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prediluted is 50/50

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:21 AM

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It says do not add water

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:21 AM

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yes

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because its already diluted 50/50

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:21 AM

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So why should I add distilled

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:21 AM

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because you said it isn't 50/50

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but it is, so dont

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:22 AM

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Yeah I added distilled when I used the coolant flush, whenever I filled it with the prestone coolant I don’t add water

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:22 AM

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i

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c

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:23 AM

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Confused, why did you tell me to add distilled

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:23 AM

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coolant comes in two forms, referred to as concentrate and 50/50

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:24 AM

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jagged delta Well when I tried to flush it with prestone I used distilled and drained it. I d...

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I read this and thought you meant you bought concentrate

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:24 AM

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Ohhh no I bought prestone coolant flush

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:24 AM

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i c

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yeh just add a little coolant at a time once the thermostat opens and it keeps burping air

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:25 AM

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Sounds good, it just seems repetitive and seems like it doesn’t want to take coolant cause it takes it very slowly

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:26 AM

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some cars just do, unfortunately

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:26 AM

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So that’s normal is what I assume

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 2:26 AM

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it can be a pain in the ass

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 2:26 AM

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Gotcha, well thanks, my Chrysler 200 gave me no problems whatsoever when I changed the thermostat

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The thing that sucks is I had to replace the whole housing at one point which was like 150 and the thermostat was like 10 bucks, in this case the whole housing and thermostat is like 27 bucks

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 5:18 AM

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@upper hollow I have a vacuum
Pump, what other tools do I need to put coolant in the system faster

jagged delta Dec 31, 2025, 7:14 AM

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@vast brook ngl I think the head gasket is blown

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The reservoir filled up higher when I just drove it and coolant is leaking

vast brook Dec 31, 2025, 10:48 AM

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jagged delta The reservoir filled up higher when I just drove it and coolant is leaking

That is not optimal

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Do a block test

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You can get the tool for like $15

nimble ridge Dec 31, 2025, 11:31 AM

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That is suboptimal

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 6:23 AM

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@nimble ridge

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Which one should I believe

vast brook Jan 1, 2026, 9:39 AM

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jagged delta

Why is the fluid level so high

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Also it has to go on the rad

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 10:29 AM

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jagged delta

ngl dude, id take it to a shop. coolant flushes and leak detection dont tend to be all that much

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 10:56 AM

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vast brook Why is the fluid level so high

Cause I did it when the car was too warm

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It wasn’t necessarily overheating but it was in the middle of the gauge

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 10:57 AM

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vast brook Also it has to go on the rad

Doesn’t it just have to detect the fumes to turn yellow?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 10:57 AM

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pseudo moat ngl dude, id take it to a shop. coolant flushes and leak detection dont tend to ...

Well this is the only car in the house rn, my car is down

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And the guy I always go to isn’t accepting any cars rn, I’m gonna drain the oil and check it today

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 10:58 AM

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jagged delta Well this is the only car in the house rn, my car is down

if you keep over heating it, you will do a lot of damage

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you need to find that leak

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 10:59 AM

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It hasn’t been overheating I’ve had the heat on so it dissipates the air

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And wdym by leak, I’m not sure it’s leaking

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 10:59 AM

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you said before it had a leak no?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:00 AM

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Well there was coolant deep in the engine but I was thinking it might of sprayed back

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Like when the tank overflowed

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:01 AM

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if theres coolant in the resevoir it will atleast be partially in the engine, air is in the system, it really shouldnt be causing this much issue, all you should have to do is run the car with heat on max and just top up the coolant as it goes down from the radiator then resevoir

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if not there is an issue else where

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did you have these issues before chaning the thermostat?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:03 AM

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Yeah that’s the thing someone said it takes so long to to bleed it but I’ve had this going on for like a week now that I drained the coolant properly this time, and no

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:03 AM

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how cheap are these thermostats?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:04 AM

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Autozone, 21 bucks

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:04 AM

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are you sure you fitted the thermostat correctly?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:06 AM

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Yeah, there’s not much you can do wrong with this one, I followed the way that the last thermostat was on there, it was the whole housing I had to replace, also, I lost that pinching hose clamp so I just put a different hose clamp on there

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:07 AM

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and the housing isnt leaking?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:07 AM

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Don’t think so, I’ll check later

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I replaced it with the second hose clamp

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It’s like wtf it’s just a thermostat and it led to all these problems

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:08 AM

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yea it should be fine, after checking that hold the upper radiator hose after cold start. it might take a while but the upper hose should get hot very quickly not gradually. might be a defective new part

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:09 AM

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jagged delta It’s like wtf it’s just a thermostat and it led to all these problems

thermostats are put often just before the engine so all the air then has to get sucked through the engine and out the other side to bleed screw

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:09 AM

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Well I would absolutely hope so, you can’t really check if the thermostat is opening can you, the only indicator is if the hose is hot but that doesn’t guarentee it right?

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I really have my doubts about the head gasket

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:10 AM

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its fairly guaranteed, if the hose is very slowly coming up to temp it means its leaking coolant through.

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:11 AM

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jagged delta I really have my doubts about the head gasket

you would of had to horrendously overheated the engine to kill a head gasket at 45k miles

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the boiling coolant is a dead obvious sign there is air in the coolant or the thermostat isnt opening

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:11 AM

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When you drain the oil and you get oil with no coolant will that guarantee a good head gasket

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Gotcha

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:12 AM

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jagged delta When you drain the oil and you get oil with no coolant will that guarantee a goo...

its not guarenteed but odds are yes because when a coolant passage blows it tends to blow out to an oil passage too

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:12 AM

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So really my best option is to maybe replace the thermostat again? And if it doesn’t work take it to a shop? Or shop first

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Sounds good, mind if I ask, are you a mechanic?

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:13 AM

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jagged delta Sounds good, mind if I ask, are you a mechanic?

yes engine swaps, rebuilds, mapping etc ive seen most parts of the buisiness

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:14 AM

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Sweet, I’d like to get into it but I’ve got really bad sciatica, shoot nerve pain down to the foot. I wouldn’t ever be a mechanic for a while tho

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:15 AM

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what are you doing exactly when you bleed it?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:15 AM

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So yesterday for example, I opened the bleeder valve which didn’t bubble at first, but I kept it open as I drove to the store and a couple miles more and came back home, closed it after

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:16 AM

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what

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erm

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youre not meant to drive with the bleed screw open

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:17 AM

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Well I did cause I thought it would get Hella air out as the thermostat would open

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:17 AM

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bleeding the cooling system is done with the car idling

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and you sitting over the engine bay topping up fluids as they go down

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:18 AM

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Yeah well when the cars in idle the coolant just flows up

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:18 AM

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thats because the thermostat is closed

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you need to stay there until car reaches op temp

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:18 AM

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Well even at regular temps it still flows up

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:18 AM

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it will do bc air is in the system

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:19 AM

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I guess I could try a new thermostat, all things are leading to that but I had good luck with autozone

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:19 AM

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no need lol

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let me find a video guide that you cant go wrong with

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:19 AM

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Ok

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:22 AM

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jagged delta I guess I could try a new thermostat, all things are leading to that but I had g...

you have a spill proof funnel kit right?

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:23 AM

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No, unfortunately

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Random, do you have a dope tool box set up? can I see it?

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Good deal isn’t it?

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:25 AM

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jagged delta Random, do you have a dope tool box set up? can I see it?

I do at the shop but my home kit is just this

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:25 AM

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If I get this, will the other caps work for oil?

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Gotcha

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:26 AM

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jagged delta If I get this, will the other caps work for oil?

yes, just make sure you clean it after each use, dont want oil and coolant mixing

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:26 AM

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Yeah

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:27 AM

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhUZ8f4u6c4

YouTube

Wrenching with Dominik

Chrysler/dodge 3.6L coolant bleeding

▶ Play video

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I sent you this video before i think

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what went wrong when u tried it?

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jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:28 AM

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You did, well the last time I tried, the bleeder didn’t bubble, I damn near need that funnel
Huh

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:29 AM

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jagged delta You did, well the last time I tried, the bleeder didn’t bubble, I damn near need...

yea, you can do without but you have to sit there and constantly top it up other wise it sucks air in

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:29 AM

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pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:29 AM

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and its also very messy

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:29 AM

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Not working with too much

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:29 AM

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thats plenty for small work

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:29 AM

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pseudo moat yea, you can do without but you have to sit there and constantly top it up other...

Yeah

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It is, I plan on going really big, I’ve got a garage that’s huge, people mistake it for a house but it’s so so overfilled, I’m also about to move so there’s like no point to clean it up

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I’ve got a beautiful 1959 fleetside Apache that I’ve always wanted to work on in that garage

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Gonna get this one instead, do these caps look like they fit dodge, Chrysler oil reservoirs or whatever you call it

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:35 AM

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open rad cap, resevoir and gently crack bleed screw

top up coolant with engine off until it arrives out bleed screw

close bleed screw

start engine with heat on max.

watch fluids dont let them get low.

because you have so much air id shut the car off every 3 mins and crack bleed screw with engine off just to burp it as it comes up to temp.

after doing that 3 or 4 times wait for it to reach normal temp by running it again.

when it reaches normal temp, engine off and burp the bleed line until the coolant stream that comes from it is a stream not stuttering.

close screw

run car for 5 mins and watch if levels go down, if they do engine off and bleed screw again, if not take it for a 5 min drive pull over and check resevoir level

when you drive make sure everything is closed

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^hand written guide of what i would do just to help if the video dont make sense

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:37 AM

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Appreciate that

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Just bought the funnel kit

pseudo moat Jan 1, 2026, 11:45 AM

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thats good, main thing just to keep in mind is the only way you will suck air in is by running the car with the bleed screw cracked or running car with the fluid low in the rad top up. so just make sure to shut engine off when cracking bleed screw

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and make sure dont run top off dry

jagged delta Jan 1, 2026, 11:46 AM

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Cool

jagged delta Jan 7, 2026, 5:29 AM

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@pseudo moat so I got the funnel, however the car didn’t wanna take coolant, I guess the thermostat didn’t open up but the gauge line was right before the middle so I would of thought it opened up but ig not

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I thinking of taking the thermostat out and pouring boiling hot water on it to open it, at least 190 degrees f

pseudo moat Jan 7, 2026, 5:36 AM

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jagged delta I thinking of taking the thermostat out and pouring boiling hot water on it to o...

That is another good test

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 1:38 AM

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@pseudo moat I tested it on the old thermostat and it opened up as it should, it was working, now I think the problem wasn’t ever the thermostat

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The car actually has 59,000 miles on it

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 1:47 AM

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I'm lazy to read, what have you already inspected

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 1:47 AM

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Good thermostat, replaced it, seems to be fine on coolant however coolant in the reservoir gets low randomly, it’s been about a 3 week problem

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I don’t feel like it could be the water pump cause the cars at 59000 miles, got it from the dealership

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 1:48 AM

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Cooling fans?

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 1:49 AM

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Like the radiator fan?

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Haven’t necessarily checked that

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 1:49 AM

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Cooling fan clutch or

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Brushed motor

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It would be funny if the Polarity were reversed shooting air out the grill

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 1:50 AM

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Don’t even know honestly, I have an above average understanding of engines but compared to a mechanic I don’t know much

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Haven’t heard of the cooling fan clutch or brushed motor

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 1:52 AM

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Let me bring the service chart on that issue

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 1:53 AM

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Also I just used the code reader and the code still pops up on the car but on the reader it says 0 dtc

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 2:02 AM

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📎 Cooling_System_-_Preliminary_Checks_Cooling_System_-_ALLDATA_Repair.pdf

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📎 Cooling_System_-_Description_Cooling_System_-_ALLDATA_Repair.pdf

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Hmm was the correct Thermostat installed?

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 2:08 AM

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Definitely, i got it from autozone and it was the complete housing so you almost can’t install it wrong

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 2:11 AM

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Oem or just generic

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hmm idk if you can view the freeze frame on your side of the end

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 2:17 AM

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Just generic duralast motorad

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 2:22 AM

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📎 Powertrain_Control_Module_PCM_ALL_Diagnostic_Trouble_Codes__DTC__-_ALLDATA_Repair.pdf

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📎 Cooling_Fan_-_Operation_Gas_Radiator_Cooling_Fan_-_ALLDATA_Repair.pdf

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 4:07 AM

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So kinda confused, what should I try first

spice scarab Jan 8, 2026, 4:16 AM

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inspect for external leaks,

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where's the coolant magically going?

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📎 Cooling_System_-_Leak_Testing_Cooling_System_-_ALLDATA_Repair.pdf

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 5:14 AM

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spice scarab where's the coolant magically going?

Well my assumption was it was fully radiating towards the engine past the thermostat

jagged delta Jan 8, 2026, 5:50 AM

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spice scarab inspect for external leaks,

Im thinking the water pump is fucked

pseudo moat Jan 8, 2026, 9:13 AM

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It's not the water pump if its pressurising as you described

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You bled the system properly yet?

jagged delta Jan 9, 2026, 5:53 AM

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Yes I did, I got the funnel but that didn’t even help, I guess the air was already bled out

jagged delta Jan 9, 2026, 5:54 AM

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pseudo moat It's not the water pump if its pressurising as you described

I brought it to an actual mechanic and he thought so, I’m really thinking it is that

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I filled up the funnel with coolant and the radiator wasn’t taking it, the car was idled and just under the middle mark, besides, the bleeder valve only shoots out a solid stream of coolant and no bubbles

pseudo moat Jan 9, 2026, 8:38 AM

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jagged delta I filled up the funnel with coolant and the radiator wasn’t taking it, the car w...

Check for leaks by the weep hole, when you say "shoots" is it consistent and high pressure? Crack the bleed valve on cold start that will tell you if you have pressure or not. Any weird noises? Normally water pump failures are quite noisy.

jagged delta Jan 9, 2026, 10:10 PM

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It shot out consistently

jagged delta Jan 9, 2026, 10:11 PM

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pseudo moat Check for leaks by the weep hole, when you say "shoots" is it consistent and hig...

And didn’t really check for weird noises, having issues with the brackets for the water pump not lining up for the bolt holes

jagged delta Jan 10, 2026, 5:36 AM

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pseudo moat Check for leaks by the weep hole, when you say "shoots" is it consistent and hig...

So I replaced the water pump, still have to bleed the system well but in the process I broke the ground strap, u think I’ll be alright to drive it for a bit

obsidian kayak Jan 10, 2026, 7:02 AM

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just get a wire to replace the ground strap

jagged delta Jan 10, 2026, 10:21 PM

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Fs

jagged delta Jan 12, 2026, 4:25 AM

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pseudo moat Check for leaks by the weep hole, when you say "shoots" is it consistent and hig...

So now it’s running too cold

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How big of a problem is it and what are possible fixes

obsidian kayak Jan 12, 2026, 4:51 AM

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thermostat is fucked lol not that complicated

jagged delta Jan 12, 2026, 7:05 AM

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obsidian kayak thermostat is fucked lol not that complicated

I don’t know about that, the thermostat that I put it wasn’t stuck open or anything

obsidian kayak Jan 12, 2026, 7:10 AM

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jagged delta I don’t know about that, the thermostat that I put it wasn’t stuck open or anyth...

aftermarket thermostats on these engines are unfortunately not to be trusted, you want 5184570AK

jagged delta Jan 12, 2026, 5:31 PM

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I put the oem thermostat back in

jagged delta Jan 12, 2026, 5:31 PM

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obsidian kayak aftermarket thermostats on these engines are unfortunately not to be trusted, yo...

It works ok

vast brook Jan 12, 2026, 11:17 PM

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obsidian kayak aftermarket thermostats on these engines are unfortunately not to be trusted, yo...

Thermostat rationality code is a requirement for all 3.6 pentastars

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 6:53 AM

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vast brook Thermostat rationality code is a requirement for all 3.6 pentastars

What does that mean lol

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 8:47 PM

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vast brook Thermostat rationality code is a requirement for all 3.6 pentastars

Oh I see lol, fuck these engines

vast brook Jan 13, 2026, 10:35 PM

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jagged delta What does that mean lol

Oh it's the code they throw for a bad thermostat

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Idk why I didn't see this earlier

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 10:36 PM

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vast brook Idk why I didn't see this earlier

All good

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Idk maybe the thermostat is stuck open or some shit but it’s not reaching temps

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Fuck it at this point

spice scarab Jan 13, 2026, 10:38 PM

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Had a case on a jeep where they replaced the thermostat with a generic one, customer was pissed off when they were quoted with a replacement of the oem part supposedly thinking new part means good and should be considered crossed out of possibilities

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 10:38 PM

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So I saw that the code was relative to heat so I replaced the thermostat and it led to this mess lmao

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 10:40 PM

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spice scarab Had a case on a jeep where they replaced the thermostat with a generic one, cust...

So the thermostat they replaced was no good? Wdym

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And they were pissed for being quoted with a new oem thermostat?

spice scarab Jan 13, 2026, 10:42 PM

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Customer took it to another shop, they put a generic one on, check engine comes up, surprised with another one.

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 10:43 PM

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So im getting into fixing cars much more, I’ve done a lot of shit on cars but wanna get better and do more, any recommendations on certain things I should try to fix to get better? @spice scarab

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 10:43 PM

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spice scarab Customer took it to another shop, they put a generic one on, check engine comes ...

I see

spice scarab Jan 13, 2026, 10:45 PM

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I'd read manuals on every car out there, but at the same time work on them by trial and error as anything will humble you

jagged delta Jan 13, 2026, 10:46 PM

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spice scarab I'd read manuals on every car out there, but at the same time work on them by tr...

For sure, I felt like an idot when fixing this thermostat, replaced the old one with a new one that broke lol and it didn’t work so I did the water pump

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Turns out the code was calling for car not getting to temp so did all that work for nothing haha

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Thinking of doing a timing chain next

vast brook Jan 16, 2026, 9:59 AM

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jagged delta Thinking of doing a timing chain next

That's a big jump

jagged delta Jan 16, 2026, 8:01 PM

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vast brook That's a big jump

Yeah well i have a bit of experience