What on EARTH possesed GM put to put the thermostat in such a RIDICULOUR position. On my Fords and V8 Jags it takes around 10 minutes (working at a snails pace!).... I have heard it was designed purely as a transverse engine, well GM Holden in Australia decided to use it on many models of Commodore and Statesman vehicles... Thanks for the Video, excellent, you have a lot of patience!
Yes sir - the original design was for "front wheel drive". When Holden set them up for rear wheel drive commodore's and statesman's - the thermostat became "tricky" to access!
Thanks for a great vid. I'd previously heard the transmission had to be pulled out to access the thermostat on a commodore, glad to see that is NOT the case. Still one heck of a tricky job though :(
Well brother , I can tell you the VZ is ridiculously hard . I've quite the patience but my hands are swollen to hell trying to fit in that spot without a removable wiper plenum. I started mine today and its a hell of a mission . My issue is now separating the large water pipe from the thermostat side as even with the bolt out it so tight it won't budge . Used to work for Holden years back and ended my run on this model ..around 10 years total , love Holden but this is a ridiculous design and the stupidest corner cutting ever by Holden to save money not re-engineering it to elsewhere on the motor being originally an east-west engine .😉 A 10-40min job on any other car running in at 4-6 hours depending on your skill level on these and some sore hands after . Unfortunately I have big hands , someone with smaller hands might save an extra hour .🤘
@@nevillegoddard4966 brother you are welcome and straight up i cannot for the life of me, after a week , get the main large inlet pipe seperated from the thermostat housing . I've tried bashing, pulling , lubricants, o-ring picks, pullers , vice grips, absolutely everything and my hands are shredded . I have never in my life been more frustrated with a job . One simple pipe needs to come out and it's like it's welded shut inside the housing . I have the most incredible patience but this is absolutely ridiculous. Anyone have any ideas.....? Edit: and yes the bolt is out but I cannot even get 1mm of separation or movement .😉
Good information, thanks for making this video, I have this engine in my Pontiac G8,V-6. Just did the spark plugs and need a new starter soon. Thanks 👍
Awesome video. Exactly what I needed as my rodeo has the same issues ie water pump, now the thermostat. Now I can go and give it a crack. Why they put the thermostat at the back of the engine baffles me!!
great video, I did my thermostat on my vz it was a mission as I didn't know about removing the wipers n everything, you made it look a hundred more times easier plus filming it awesome. But my vz is still over heating, I noticed the bottom water pipe is still cold after running it up to temp, could it be the water pump, I dont see any leaking around it though?
@@danfoster6033 ...yep...had to do it by touch as there was no way of seeing anything, cant remember but think theres only 3 bolts, I had to buy a long reach 10mm to get to one of them...I wouldnt bother if you have big hands, saw it on a YT clip, Iw see if I kin find it n post the url...
Great video mate well done! Allot better for the home mechanics than having the trans out. Does anyone torque bolts anymore? I get it, it’s only thermostat and water pump but still gaskets
Great video mate! What a stupid place to have the thermostat! GM knew this engine would be in rear wheel drive AND front wheel drive cars. Bad design, but again, great video!
l noticed the thermostat gasket was metal type did you use sealant with this, it appears you bolted straight in without sealant’ . love the vid good camera work
One thing that irks me is why on earth would you put the thermostat in such a difficult place. Sometimes designers n engineers forget the vehicles need repairs too.
The Engine was originally designed for East West Cars. (Front Wheel Drive). So it was accessable easily. As soon as it became adapted to North South (Rear wheel drive) the whole thing went tits up.
You did well by just short cutting it without removing the transmission. But, Did you remove the old gasket off the engine, before putting new gaskets in place, looks like the old gasket pieces are still on there. Just saying. All good otherwise 👍
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Easy to change on a transverse Buicks. My back is sore from watching this. At less you got the job done and explain the process in detail. Cheers
What on EARTH possesed GM put to put the thermostat in such a RIDICULOUR position. On my Fords and V8 Jags it takes around 10 minutes (working at a snails pace!).... I have heard it was designed purely as a transverse engine, well GM Holden in Australia decided to use it on many models of Commodore and Statesman vehicles... Thanks for the Video, excellent, you have a lot of patience!
Yes sir - the original design was for "front wheel drive". When Holden set them up for rear wheel drive commodore's and statesman's - the thermostat became "tricky" to access!
Very well displayed and explained. Good work. Thanks
Thanks for a great vid. I'd previously heard the transmission had to be pulled out to access the thermostat on a commodore, glad to see that is NOT the case. Still one heck of a tricky job though :(
Great camera work, I know how hard it is to get a clear shot. Need to do this on my VZ
Thanks for this video I have to do my water pump .looks easy enough to do thanks keep the great videos coming please
A clear precise and well explained video.. Great work all round.. Cheers and thankyou for the video and the effort put in making it ..
Excellent job Mr. Carfix!😮😅😅😅😊😊! I just hope the thermostat is as 'easy' to get to on VZ as it is on a VF! Some have mentioned engine removal!😮!
Well brother , I can tell you the VZ is ridiculously hard . I've quite the patience but my hands are swollen to hell trying to fit in that spot without a removable wiper plenum.
I started mine today and its a hell of a mission .
My issue is now separating the large water pipe from the thermostat side as even with the bolt out it so tight it won't budge .
Used to work for Holden years back and ended my run on this model ..around 10 years total , love Holden but this is a ridiculous design and the stupidest corner cutting ever by Holden to save money not re-engineering it to elsewhere on the motor being originally an east-west engine .😉
A 10-40min job on any other car running in at 4-6 hours depending on your skill level on these and some sore hands after .
Unfortunately I have big hands , someone with smaller hands might save an extra hour .🤘
@@GUARDIANA01 Damn it! I've got big fricken hands! Thanks for the warning!
@@nevillegoddard4966 brother you are welcome and straight up i cannot for the life of me, after a week , get the main large inlet pipe seperated from the thermostat housing .
I've tried bashing, pulling , lubricants, o-ring picks, pullers , vice grips, absolutely everything and my hands are shredded .
I have never in my life been more frustrated with a job .
One simple pipe needs to come out and it's like it's welded shut inside the housing .
I have the most incredible patience but this is absolutely ridiculous.
Anyone have any ideas.....?
Edit: and yes the bolt is out but I cannot even get 1mm of separation or movement .😉
Good information, thanks for making this video, I have this engine in my Pontiac G8,V-6. Just did the spark plugs and need a new starter soon. Thanks 👍
Thanks for doing this video, it shows really clearly how to do the work.
Check the Front Water Inlet Pipe Seal & O'Ring as well it is above the water pump might as well do it if removing the intake
Awesome video. Exactly what I needed as my rodeo has the same issues ie water pump, now the thermostat. Now I can go and give it a crack. Why they put the thermostat at the back of the engine baffles me!!
Thanks mate 👍
Engine was usually mounted East West
Lovely, clear video that was most helpful!
great video, I did my thermostat on my vz it was a mission as I didn't know about removing the wipers n everything, you made it look a hundred more times easier plus filming it awesome. But my vz is still over heating, I noticed the bottom water pipe is still cold after running it up to temp, could it be the water pump, I dont see any leaking around it though?
First do proper air bleeding then go to water pump
Did you manage to get to it mate without taking the trans out
@@danfoster6033 ...yep...had to do it by touch as there was no way of seeing anything, cant remember but think theres only 3 bolts, I had to buy a long reach 10mm to get to one of them...I wouldnt bother if you have big hands, saw it on a YT clip, Iw see if I kin find it n post the url...
@@ianmcgoram185 cheers mate, last question, did you torque it?
@danfoster6033 no sorry
Great video mate well done! Allot better for the home mechanics than having the trans out.
Does anyone torque bolts anymore? I get it, it’s only thermostat and water pump but still gaskets
Great video mate! What a stupid place to have the thermostat! GM knew this engine would be in rear wheel drive AND front wheel drive cars. Bad design, but again, great video!
Thanks mate
Bloody stupid alright. In saying that it doesn’t look as hard as it could be.
l noticed the thermostat gasket was metal type did you use sealant with this, it appears you bolted straight in without sealant’ . love the vid good camera work
Thank you very much my friend you've made it easy for me to diagnose my over heating problems iv been having an didnt know where to start 👏
Many thanks, very helpful.
So what torque setting did you do on the water pump?
How did you clean the face from the old gaskets ?
One thing that irks me is why on earth would you put the thermostat in such a difficult place. Sometimes designers n engineers forget the vehicles need repairs too.
They only care about it lasting the new car warranty period. After that, they don,t give a sh*t.
The Engine was originally designed for East West Cars. (Front Wheel Drive). So it was accessable easily.
As soon as it became adapted to North South (Rear wheel drive) the whole thing went tits up.
Good job thank you very much
How much this repair costed you?
Thanks for the video by the way
$450 including parts
You did well by just short cutting it without removing the transmission.
But, Did you remove the old gasket off the engine, before putting new gaskets in place, looks like the old gasket pieces are still on there. Just saying. All good otherwise 👍
Thank you
very nice video thankyou!!!!
Water neck is leaking also
What a punish for a simple thermostat that s normal y at front of motor for easier access more work for a small thermostat crazy 😧
Annoying job for sure not much room great engine to work on apart from a thermostat change.
Throw that rattletec in the bin and fit a barra that engine is shit and was designed for a front wheel drive vehicle