Has anyone ever replaced the thermostat??

[OughtNotSoToBe]

I'm trying to suppress my frustration as I petition the group for help here. I've always done my own auto maintenance, so this is just embarrassing, but I still don't even know which side of the vehicle the thermostat is on. I've been searching for a week with no luck. My coolant leak is so bad that I don't dare drive anymore. I see evidence of the leak at the rear of the engine, but I can't find the source. Too many things are in the way. But even if I knew where it was, the next challenge is knowing what to disassemble in order to see it, let alone get a wrench near it. My fear is that I'll have to remove the entire intake manifold and all the connected hoses and wires - looks like a 3 to 4 hour tear down.

If no one has done this, does anyone know of an online resource with DIY instructions? Or maybe where I can find a service/repair manual? The local parts stores don't have one for the Genny.

Thanks for any help - I need it!

 

[joegr]

If you don't know where the thermostat is, how can you know that it is the leak? Is there some other reason that you want to replace it?
Which engine do you have?
This is from the 2018 shop manual for the 3.8.

 

[Ozy44]

COOLANT LEAK

I have a 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 V6 with a small coolant leak that’s causing air to come in the system and spikes my temp gauge. Had it seen by my shop and said they located leak by thermostat and water distribution housing at the rear or engine (diagnosis picture attached). He explained the...

genesisowners.com

 

[OughtNotSoToBe]

If you don't know where the thermostat is, how can you know that it is the leak? Is there some other reason that you want to replace it?
Which engine do you have?
This is from the 2018 shop manual for the 3.8.

View attachment 36042

Valid question. I can't know, but it is a starting point. I finally purchased a subscription to alldatadiy and looked it up. I don't know what I was expecting, but it didn't help as much as I'd hoped because I still don't know the proper procedure for getting access to the buried part. Anyway, my thinking was that I can start ruling things out by digging in - I'm just not sure where to dig, and honestly, I may end up at an indy shop for this one.

 

[Ozy44]

Have you read the "COOLANT LEAK" post that I linked above?