Ford Contour Car Thermostat Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(53)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Customer Ratings

(53)

Car Thermostat Replacement Service

How much does a Car Thermostat Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Ford Contour Car Thermostat Replacement is $165 with $70 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1999 Ford ContourL4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$255.67Shop/Dealer Price$300.84 - $413.85
1995 Ford ContourV6-2.5LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$292.95Shop/Dealer Price$346.96 - $477.45
1997 Ford ContourL4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$244.39Shop/Dealer Price$291.76 - $411.32
1996 Ford ContourV6-2.5LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$292.95Shop/Dealer Price$346.93 - $477.39
1997 Ford ContourV6-2.5LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$292.95Shop/Dealer Price$346.98 - $477.49
1995 Ford ContourL4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$244.39Shop/Dealer Price$291.76 - $411.32
2000 Ford ContourL4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$240.67Shop/Dealer Price$285.72 - $398.64
1998 Ford ContourL4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$249.39Shop/Dealer Price$296.99 - $416.74
Show example Ford Contour Car Thermostat Replacement prices

What is an engine cooling system thermostat and how does it work?

The car's engine cooling system thermostat is a small valve within a cooling system passageway that opens and closes in response to the temperature of the circulating engine coolant. When your car is first started and the coolant is cold, the valve in the thermostat will be in the closed position, circulating the coolant flow only within the engine instead of flowing to the radiator, which allows the engine to warm up fast, promoting fuel efficiency, low emissions, and reduced engine deposits. Once the engine coolant reaches the design temperature, usually around 195 degrees, the valve will open and close as you drive in order to maintain a coolant temperature typically between 195 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thermostat

When to consider replacing the engine cooling system thermostat:

  • Engine overheats. A thermostat with the valve stuck closed is a common cause of engine overheating. However, since there are other causes of overheating, a mechanic will thoroughly inspect the cooling system prior to condemning the thermostat. Since it is usually not known how badly the engine overheated, the mechanic will also try to determine if there is evidence that the cylinder head gasket was blown. If so, it would be repaired prior to replacing the thermostat.
  • Temperature gauge reads too low or too high. Thermostats can get sticky, causing the engine temperature to stray from the optimal range. Your dash-mounted temperature gauge will notify you of this malfunction.
  • Cooling system repairs. All thermostats eventually fail. Therefore, if the cooling system is already open for major repairs, such as water pump or radiator replacement, it is recommended to install a new thermostat simply as insurance against future breakdown.

How do mechanics replace the engine cooling system thermostat?

  • Once the engine is completely cold, the radiator cap is loosened and enough coolant is drained from the radiator so the coolant level is below the thermostat housing.
  • The thermostat housing is removed and the thermostat and gasket are extracted. Note that some cars have more than one cooling system thermostat and both might need replacement.
  • All mounting surfaces on the thermostat housing are cleaned of old gasket material. A new gasket is applied and the thermostat is re-installed in the correct orientation and with the temperature sensing cylinder facing downward towards the engine.
  • The thermostat housing bolts are tightened to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications using a calibrated inch-pound torque wrench.
  • The cooling system is refilled with the appropriate coolant type and the system is fully bled of all air.
  • The car engine is run until the normal operating temperature is reached, and while taking precautions with the hot coolant, the coolant level is rechecked while confirming there is flow through the radiator — either visually or with an infrared temperature gun. This will confirm the thermostat is open. Finally, the engine is checked for leaks.

Is it safe to drive with an engine cooling system thermostat problem?

No. If it has been determined that there is a thermostat problem, it should be repaired right away. Failure to do so can cause substantial and costly damage to the engine.

When replacing the engine cooling system thermostat keep in mind:

  • Engine overheating due to causes other than a faulty thermostat, will themselves damage a thermostat. Therefore, always replace the thermostat if the engine overheats, even if the thermostat was not the initial cause of the overheating.
  • The thermostat should be replaced anytime you have major work done on the coolant system. It is convenient and costs little during such repairs and insurance against future breakdown.
  • OEM thermostats are the best ones to use and you can request your mechanic to install only the OEM thermostat. Dealer supplied, OEM thermostats are sometimes more costly but are generally higher quality and specifically engineered for your car.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Ford mechanics

Real customer reviews from Ford owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(53)

Rating Summary
48
3
0
0
2
48
3
0
0
2

Jeff

33 years of experience
441 reviews
Jeff
33 years of experience
Ford Contour L4-2.0L - Timing Belt - Rancho Cordova, California
Super awesome mechanic, highly recommend. Very, friendly and has a wealth of knowledge on every vehicle out there. Fast persist and proficient work ethic. Most honest mechanic iv met in my life . Not enough good things to say about Jeff, if you need your car fixed and want reliable fast and dependable grade A+ mechanic who can fix any problem out there, Jeff is your man.

Michael

2021 years of experience
6 reviews
Michael
2021 years of experience
Ford Contour V6-2.5L - Oil Pressure Sensor - Peoria, Arizona
very good at his job and very dependable!

Jorge

14 years of experience
23 reviews
Jorge
14 years of experience
Ford Contour V6-2.5L - Car Inspection - Kissimmee, Florida
Was wonderful honest and knew what he was doing.I will definitely have him work on my car again and I recommend him highly

Peter

43 years of experience
1321 reviews
Peter
43 years of experience
Ford Contour V6-2.5L - AC Compressor - Peoria, Arizona
great as usual!

Excellent Rating

(53)

Rating Summary
48
3
0
0
2
48
3
0
0
2
Number of Ford Contour services completed
583+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Ford MECHANICS
1700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How a Modern Engine Works
You You turn your key in the ignition, and the engine fires up. You press the gas and the car moves forward. You take the key out and the engine turns off. That’s how your engine works, right? It's a...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2011 Ford Ranger
The The 2011 Ford Ranger offers affordable pricing with excellent styling. It is a compact pickup that is both inexpensive to operate and own. The vehicle is capable of going off-road while still being able to tow 1,600 to 3,100...
Master Wheel Lug Nut Torque Specifications
As an automotive technician, it is likely you will be expected to master the skill of using the right amount of torque to install lug nuts.

Starting - 2004 Toyota Vitz

Hello. If the issue started after you changed the battery, then it may be possible that you need to reprogram the remote or that it may be defective. If it is an OEM push to start system, you may need...

Does my car need a clutch replacement?

Hi there. It sounds like the clutch is slipping; similar to when an automatic transmission slips. The clutch disc provides the friction surface that allows the transfer of engine torque to the transmission. It accomplishes this by riding on the...

What else could cause power steering problems

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com