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Old timer told me to always replace the thermostat housing bolts... now I get why
Had a 2012 Focus come in last month with a slow coolant leak. The senior guy at the shop, Jimmy, told me to swap the thermostat housing bolts even if they looked fine. I figured it was just him being overly cautious - why replace something that ain't broke? Well after I put the new housing on with the old bolts, three days later the customer came back with the same leak. Turns out the old bolts were stretched just enough from the heat cycling. Had to pull it all apart again and lost a Saturday morning. So who's actually swapping these bolts as a rule and who's rolling the dice like I did?
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anthonyrivera3mo ago
Ha, I did the exact same thing on my own Jeep and cost myself a whole Sunday afternoon. Jimmy knew what he was talking about and I had to learn it the hard way like a true knucklehead. Now I just replace those bolts every time and call it cheap insurance.
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mitchell.thomas3mo ago
Yeah, that Sunday afternoon pain is a rite of passage for Jeep guys. I strip the threads on those bolts maybe one in every three times now, so I just keep a box of the OEM replacements in my toolbox. Saves me the headache of having to drill one out on a Sunday when the parts stores are closed.
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