Toyota 86 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

(121)

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

(121)

Car Thermostat Replacement Service

How much does a Car Thermostat Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Toyota 86 Car Thermostat Replacement is $306 with $110 for parts and $196 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2018 Toyota 86H4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$436.46Shop/Dealer Price$496.37 - $664.74
2017 Toyota 86H4-2.0LService typeCar Thermostat ReplacementEstimate$423.85Shop/Dealer Price$481.28 - $647.80
Show example Toyota 86 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 Toyota mechanics

Real customer reviews from Toyota owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(121)

Rating Summary
111
6
2
0
2
111
6
2
0
2

Nazareth

28 years of experience
345 reviews
Nazareth
28 years of experience
Toyota 86 H4-2.0L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - West Covina, California
Timely, patient, and helpful!

Jeffrey

28 years of experience
870 reviews
Jeffrey
28 years of experience
Toyota Camry V6-3.3L - Thermostat - Concord, North Carolina
Arrived on time, courteous and professional.

Chris

23 years of experience
2372 reviews
Chris
23 years of experience
Toyota Solara V6-3.0L - Car Thermostat Replacement - Irvine, California
Chris is awesome and very competent! I am very satisfied with his service.

Melvin

18 years of experience
221 reviews
Melvin
18 years of experience
Toyota 4Runner V6-3.4L - Thermostat - Roswell, Georgia
Melvin was very professional, knowledgeable, & efficient. He explained what he did & what additional work will need to be done soon. No pressure to have it done by him RIGHT NOW!! I appreciate that.

Excellent Rating

(121)

Rating Summary
111
6
2
0
2
111
6
2
0
2
Number of Toyota Car Thermostat Replacement services completed
1331+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Toyota MECHANICS
1700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How to Import a Car From Europe
While most people simply go to a local dealership or a nearby individual to purchase a new car, you may feel that you must simply have a car from across the pond in Europe. You may be a collector, itching...
P0261 OBD-II Trouble Code: Cylinder 1 Injector Circuit Low
P0261 P0261 code definition Cylinder 1 Injector Circuit Low What the P0261 code means This trouble code indicates that the powertrain control module (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-is-a-vehicle-s-electrical-control-unit) has detected a lower reference voltage coming from the number 1 cylinder’s fuel injector than what...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Door Lock Cylinder
If your car has door lock cylinders, you may need to replace them if your key cannot unlock the door, gets stuck, or cannot turn in the lock.

Seat belt won't release

Most vehicles second and third row seat belts have a ratchet feature that is intended for use with child car seats. This ratchet mechanism is engaged by pulling the seat belt out as far as it can go then releasing...

Should I undercoat a 2010 Ford Escape in good condition?

Hi, thanks for writing in. If you live in the north, then yes. You want to protect your car against rust as much as possible. Texas uses sand instead of salt for icy roads, but if you know your state...

Heater blows cold.

Hi there. Leak stopper should only be used in emergency situations as it usually causes more problems than it "fixes". It sounds like the leak stopper may have settled in your heater core and is preventing the proper amount of...

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