Faulty thermostat?

RayD · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-07, 02:07 PM

The check engine light on my 2003 CTS (53K miles) came on. Dealer is telling me that my thermostat needs to be replaced. My response was “great that should not be bad” he then went on to tell me it’s not the thermostat one would typically think of but a different one that will take about 4 hours to replace, and cost $600.

I need to give him an answer Monday morning.

They trying to rip me off or is there more than one thermostat in the engine?

chico · #2 (**permalink**) 01-27-07, 04:11 PM

before you do anything:
did you check the trouble code(s)???if you did what did it say? and if you didnt you should do that first!!!
if you dont know how to check there is a number of treads here
good luck

dkozloski · #3 (**permalink**) 01-27-07, 07:23 PM

The 3.2L motor is notorious for having an engine thermostat that is very laborious to replace. A $6 part, $600 deep in the engine compartment.

nyyankeehater · #4 (**permalink**) 01-27-07, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayD

The check engine light on my 2003 CTS (53K miles) came on. Dealer is telling me that my thermostat needs to be replaced. My response was “great that should not be bad” he then went on to tell me it’s not the thermostat one would typically think of but a different one that will take about 4 hours to replace, and cost $600.

I need to give him an answer Monday morning.

They trying to rip me off or is there more than one thermostat in the engine?

Nope, he is telling you the truth. I have a 3,6l and had 2 coolant sensors replaced in the last 3 months. Evidently there are 2, one deeper in the engine that they did not replace the first time which caused it to go off again about 2 weeks ago. They actually needed help trouble shooting the issue with Cadillac and, as usual, they could not find the part so the car had to sit for 2 days. I guess it is at the rear of the engine and a bitch to get to and alloted time is 4 hrs of work. If they go in you should have them replace both sensors in addition to the thermostat.

iEarnedit · #5 (**permalink**) 01-27-07, 11:57 PM

Screw that, 600.00 for 4 hours work???
hmm....150.00 per hour?

I could find a bazillion wrench heads with half a brain that could replace that for well under 600.00. I would tell the Caddy dealership you are dealing with to stick it. Funny how they pay these "highly qualified, skilled mechanics" a crap wage and than rake you on the hourly rate.......

Maybe if they weren't buying 50 inch plasma television sets for the showroom, they would find a way to keep their hourly rates down