Hi People. I know this is in the wrong forum but i feel you all are my friends and its that help i need. My daughter had decided to remove the radiator hose to the thermostat in her car when it split, thinking that the thermostat housing was part of the process she removed the thermostat as well.........problem is that she has forgotten which way it goes back in. Is it valve end into thermostat/engine housing and spring end to rubber hose to radiator or the other way round? Its a Renault Clio 1.4 RT 1992 reg....any ideas or knowledge of the way it goes back in place would be a godsend. Thankyou in advance. Marc

very easy: The opening plate must be on top when you install the thermostat, if you don't know, put it in hot water then you see how it opens. Greetz from my husband who is an engineer and can repair nearly everything, especially on cars.

LOL ! Ain't this forum the greatest? You can get advice on anything here!

And to follow up, you need to pressure check the system for leaks anyway, so run the engine up to operating temperature and check for leaks. If the temperature starts going too high, there's something wrong. Better to find this out in the driveway than out on the highway.

Better in the Driveway, than the Highway. Amen to that!

I changed out one of my radiator hoses...myself, one time.

Instead of test driving around on side streets, I took it directly out on the highway. Well, while going up a very large hill at 75mph, it came loose...I didn't notice until my temp gauge was maxed out, and for how long, I never did find out.

The heat cracked one of the piston heads.

The repair bill to replace it was WAY more than what it was worth. (it was an older/used car)

Live and (boy, did I) learn.

AS

Message edited on: 10/28/2005 22:47

Ive been thinking of gettin me a drivers license. Now that I know wich support-forum to turn to, I probably will.

@ Yoro Thank your hubby very much...just had the daughter ask if i have done it yet!!.....dont ya just luv um!! LOL @ TheBryster Wait for my next question! ROFLMAO. @ jfike Will do, thanks for the advice. @ AS Once i was in front of a brand new Porsche and my hose went....dirty water all over his front end then it hit me as i slowed down!!!!! LOL @ Stoner Ask away, great friends will always have the answers! ;) Thanks Guys, massive help. Have a great weekend and a safe Halloween!

Yoro's hubby is wise. You could also just google it, or call your local garage guy, or auto parts guy. (among many other cars....I rebuilt a 71 Cuda from the ground up) VROOOOM Anyone ever listen to Car-talk on NPR?...it's hilarious.

@ ICM Thanks for the advice but none are open at 7PM :( Google didnt give any answers to 'how to fit a thermostat in a renault clio' and a load more questions and by 11pm i got very tired! Just phoned early this morning and i did have it in the right end......good old dads, ya just cant beat um!! LOL

Attached Link: http://www.inct.net/~autotips/tsketch.htm

(runs)

Message edited on: 10/29/2005 04:19

So here's a question for you Americans based on AS's reply. He said "....I changed out one of my radiator hoses..." Why do you guys say 'changed out' ? Why not just use the word 'Changed' ? Seems weird to me.;-) Toodle-pip!

@ bryster - "changed" implies the item inm question was changed while "changed out" clarifies that it was taken out and replaced with something similar. it is weird when you consider most american grammar is based on laziness of speech rather than preciceness of idea conveyance. whoa, biggest words i've used in a long time.

Hows about this one..

Renault "Spring end goes in housing, valve goes in rubber hose"

Me...."The flow is the other way, are you sure??"

Renault..."Oh yes, thats the way it goes"

Me..."Ok,thankyou very much for your help"....puts phone down.......

Me.....This still isnt right, the top half of the outlet pipe is heating up to around 100 degrees....bottom half is cold, thermostat still not working!!..

Phones Renault again.....Parts department talks to mechanics.....Yes thats right, spring into housing, valve into rubber hose!"

Me..."But the water flow is going the other way so the valve isnt getting the hot water to it to operate properly!"

Renault..."Well, they said, its right, so it must be!"

Me....."OK, Thanks again, goodbye."
Very polite me is! LOL

CAR...Temperature is over 120 degrees at the top half of pipe, lower half is cold. No hot water even going into the rad and temp gauge right to the limits in RED!

Changes the thermostat around the other way, refills the rad and anti-freeze.
Starts up, runs for ten mins....goes for a slow drive.....temp gauge normal...gets back home....everything is perfect...Reason, the water needs to heat the valve to open and release the hot water to the rad to cool off and then return from the lower pipe back to the engine.

I ask.........WHOS THE DADDY!!!

Even the graphic (Thanks ICM ;)) is different for Renault's, the water flow is opposite!!......FLIPPIN FR*GS :(

Message edited on: 10/29/2005 09:56

Oh, something else i forgot to mention.....when testing a thermostat DO NOT EMERSE STRAIGHT INTO HOT WATER..... Get the kettle, fill it up to MAX, keep the lid open, tie some string to the spring end of the thermostat and lower it into the COLD water........then bring to boil and watch the thermostat open.......it will not work (well not 99% of the time) if you put it straight into boiling water.....Reason.....dont ask me!! LOL Hope this helps in this Car mechanics forum here at Rendo! Thanks again you guys, its appreciated ;) @ TheBryster and all other english peeps here.......... Clocks go back 1 hour tonight at 2AM...just thought i might say.

I had a thermostat go out on me in mid winter and never got it fixed. I thought for sure the engine would over heat and seize on me. But apparently, engines don't overheat in mid winter. This was good to know.

Problems here Bandolin is that it doesnt get that cold here so the engines tend to get more damage if seized. Saying that, we are ment to have a very cold spell this year.....get my willy warmer out! LOL

Yeah, forgot to mention in my area Winters are around -20C.

Marcfx: I knew that! We gets an extra hour in bed, or Brycing or whatever else you usually do.....

Its the bed bit for me. Most probably dreaming of bl**dy thermostats!! ;)