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[Ralph]

I believe my thermostat is failing, it's taking about 5 miles before the temperature gauge starts moving up & it barely reaches 80 degrees unless in slow moving traffic.

Any body any idea how much a dealer will want to replace it ?

Thanks

[Nick W]

If it all goes well, it's going to be at least an hour's work. Plus the cost of the part, and OE are about 3 times as much as the same part in the actual manufacturer's box.
Why would you want to go to a dealer for a straightforward job like this?

[05omegav6]

I believe my thermostat is failing, it's taking about 5 miles before the temperature gauge starts moving up & it barely reaches 80 degrees unless in slow moving traffic.

Any body any idea how much a dealer will want to replace it ?

Thanks

£27,862.43 at a guess

As Nick suggests, it's a straight forward job, just be sure to get the correct thermostat as the castings vary, and get the alloy transfer pipe that joins it to the radiator top hose... they are prone to breaking on removal

[tidla]

If it all goes well, it's going to be at least an hour's work. Plus the cost of the part, and OE are about 3 times as much as the same part in the actual manufacturer's box.
Why would you want to go to a dealer for a straightforward job like this?

Which brand is that then?

I did the job a while back while doing other work and fitted just a thermostat using the existing housing and transfer tube.

(might of been ac delco)

Ended up doing the job again 12 months later when the thermostat stuck sending the needle off the gauge.

Fitted the gm stuff second time around.

[Andy B]

If it all goes well, it's going to be at least an hour's work. Plus the cost of the part, and OE are about 3 times as much as the same part in the actual manufacturer's box.
Why would you want to go to a dealer for a straightforward job like this?

Which brand is that then?

I did the job a while back while doing other work and fitted just a thermostat using the existing housing and transfer tube.

(might of been ac delco)

Ended up doing the job again 12 months later when the thermostat stuck sending the needle off the gauge.

Fitted the gm stuff second time around.

and there's the rub. Anyone can fit cheap parts on a car, but it depends if you want those parts to last ....especially on parts that are a bugger to fit - like a V6 'stat

[Shackeng]

If it all goes well, it's going to be at least an hour's work. Plus the cost of the part, and OE are about 3 times as much as the same part in the actual manufacturer's box.
Why would you want to go to a dealer for a straightforward job like this?

...to change the 'stat, then perhaps another two to fit the 'B' bolt.

[05omegav6]

I used an AC Delco one from the States, about twice the price of a cheapy here, but including pistage was about £35 iirc. Bought from a GM dealer in Florida. No issues with bolt length. Search for thermostat under my name and you'll find the link... Bought via eBay.com search for it there using the GM part number

[sjr47]

Think TIS states about 2.5 hours labour to remove & replace then there,s bleeding of the system ,cost off coolant & parts bet you don,t get much change out of £350 notes at a dealer .Did mine last year using a Wahler stat a good quality German make (the flange is thinner but not a major problem) and  took me best part of 8 hrs mainly down to struggling with removal and replacement of the transfer pipe and B bolt in temperatures close to freezing! but give yourself time and its very doable would rate it as about 3 spanners on the Haynes scale 

[05omegav6]

Here you go...

The correct, genuine thermostat for 2.6/3.2 engines

About £40 to your door in four days, and less than half the price of a Vauxhall bought one

You'll also need one of these... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cadillac-Catera-CTS-Saturn-Vue-L-series-Thermostat-Housing-Tube-90411629-/200750794653?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ACadillac%7CModel%3ACatera&hash=item2ebdae079d&vxp=mtr £12ish from Vauxhall, and 5 litres of red coolant and 5 litres of distilled water

[TheBoy]

On trade, genuine stat is about £50+VAT. Budget for xfer pipe as well as this occasionally breaks, approx. £10. Get the right bolts as the stat thickness does vary.

So about £75-80 (with coolant) to DIY.

Dealer will be around £250-£300 in labour, plus retail parts price. Back street garage will half labour costs. Both will likely make a pigs ear of it.

If you are near one of the willing OOF mechanics, labour costs will be far less, and a better job done, as OOFers understand the Omega better than anyone now...

[steve6367]

Here you go...

The correct, genuine thermostat for 2.6/3.2 engines

About £40 to your door in four days, and less than half the price of a Vauxhall bought one

You'll also need one of these... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cadillac-Catera-CTS-Saturn-Vue-L-series-Thermostat-Housing-Tube-90411629-/200750794653?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ACadillac%7CModel%3ACatera&hash=item2ebdae079d&vxp=mtr £12ish from Vauxhall, and 5 litres of red coolant and 5 litres of distilled water

To make up the 50/50 coolant? I used the stuff that comes out of the tap on the 2.5 yesterday post water pump change.......is that bad?

[05omegav6]

Not ideal, as all tap water contains minerals to a greater or lesser degree, whereas distilled water is pure

[Andy B]

Not ideal, as all tap water contains minerals to a greater or lesser degree, whereas distilled water is pure

But while some tap water is vile to drink ..... east coast/Skegness, others are a whole lot nicer & are more than good enough ie those of us that get it direct from the Lakes 

[05omegav6]

Not ideal, as all tap water contains minerals to a greater or lesser degree, whereas distilled water is pure

But while some tap water is vile to drink ..... east coast/Skegness, others are a whole lot nicer & are more than good enough ie those of us that get it direct from the Lakes 

Still full of suspended minerals which will eventually make the engine waterways look like a ten year old kettle in a hard water area

[X30XE]

Not ideal, as all tap water contains minerals to a greater or lesser degree, whereas distilled water is pure

But while some tap water is vile to drink ..... east coast/Skegness, others are a whole lot nicer & are more than good enough ie those of us that get it direct from the Lakes 

Still full trace of suspended minerals which will eventually make the engine waterways look like a ten year old kettle in a hard water area

Not really, as a ten year old kettle has had 4000+ litres of water through it with every litre bringing more minerals, the cooling system on the other hand has only had 40 litres in closed loop in the same ten years. Deposits from metal corrosion as a result of inadequate corrosion inhibitors (ie coolant) would be more significant.

[Andy B]

....

Not really, as a ten year old kettle has had 4000+ litres of water through it with every litre bringing more minerals, the cooling system on the other hand has only had 40 litres in closed loop in the same ten years. Deposits from metal corrosion as a result of inadequate corrosion inhibitors (ie coolant) would be more significant.

What he ^^^ said .......... and never had a problem with any car with proper drinkable northern water