Plymouth Horizon 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

(167)

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

(167)

Car Thermostat Replacement Service

How much does a Car Thermostat Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Plymouth Horizon Car Thermostat Replacement is $203 with $63 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1990 Plymouth HorizonL4-2.2LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$316.70Shop/Dealer Price$360.73 - $484.70
Show example Plymouth Horizon 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 Plymouth mechanics

Real customer reviews from Plymouth owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(167)

Rating Summary
154
5
1
1
6
154
5
1
1
6

Jay

38 years of experience
1035 reviews
Jay
38 years of experience
Plymouth Neon L4-2.0L - Thermostat - Riverside, California
Awesome guy. Knew what he was doing and came prepared. Even fixes some mistakes made by myself and the warehouse. Best mechanic I've had in a long time.

Junard

12 years of experience
161 reviews
Junard
12 years of experience
Plymouth Grand Voyager V6-3.3L - Thermostat - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Excellent

Jason

18 years of experience
429 reviews
Jason
18 years of experience
Plymouth Colt L4-1.5L - Oil or Fluid is leaking - San Jose, California
Excellent mechanic!! Get's an A+ from us. Quality work, very personable. Would not hesitate to use him again!! (Forgot to put a rating in right after the work was done, so I am doing it now. The repair was done a while ago.... still running great with no problems. Fixed the problem and after all this time is still running well!!)

Nolan

31 years of experience
296 reviews
Nolan
31 years of experience
Plymouth Sundance L4-2.2L - Car is not starting Inspection - Tucson, Arizona
Nolan's expertise is worth his weight in gold. He's now on my favorite list!

Excellent Rating

(167)

Rating Summary
154
5
1
1
6
154
5
1
1
6
Number of Plymouth services completed
1837+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Plymouth MECHANICS
100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How to Get a Kentucky Driver's Permit
The The state of Kentucky requires that all teen drivers participate in a Graduated Driver Licensing program. The first step in this program is to obtain a learner’s permit, which graduates to a full license as the driver gains experience...
How to Raffle a Car
A A popular way to raise money for a charity, school, or nonprofit is to raffle a vehicle. This type of raffle can draw in large crowds interested in the vehicle up for grabs. Before giving away a vehicle, though,...
P3412 OBD-II Trouble Code: Cylinder 2 Deactivation/Intake Valve Control Circuit High
P3412 means the cylinder valve control circulation is reading high due to electrical problems, bad sensor or solenoid, or low oil pressure.

What does the immobilizer indicator mean?

The immobilizer indicator is located on your instrument panel. This light illuminates when the ignition is turned to the ON position, to let you know that the immobilizer has been deactivated. The light will turn off when you start the...

High idling on cold start

Hi there thanks for writing in about your 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. This sounds like a failing idle air control valve issue (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement). If this is confirmed, and the valve is replaced, there is also a 'relearning" process for the engine...

Skipping, light rough idle, & smoking

Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. Depending on what color the smoke is will determine what is happening with the engine (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-shaking-pulsating-or-vibrating-inspection). If there is heavy black smoke, then there is too much fuel in the cylinders and the fuel...

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