Volkswagen Transporter Car Thermostat Replacement Costs

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Car Thermostat Replacement Service

How much does a Car Thermostat Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Volkswagen Transporter Car Thermostat Replacement is $225 with $71 for parts and $154 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1990 Volkswagen TransporterH4-2.1L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$347.60	Shop/Dealer Price$395.84 - $531.63
1992 Volkswagen TransporterL5-2.5L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$337.69	Shop/Dealer Price$383.98 - $518.32
1993 Volkswagen TransporterL5-2.5L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$353.67	Shop/Dealer Price$403.98 - $550.33
1991 Volkswagen TransporterH4-2.1L	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$337.69	Shop/Dealer Price$384.01 - $518.36
1993 Volkswagen TransporterL5-2.4L Diesel	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$365.97	Shop/Dealer Price$420.98 - $577.76
1994 Volkswagen TransporterL5-2.4L Diesel	Service typeCar Thermostat Replacement	Estimate$365.97	Shop/Dealer Price$419.51 - $575.20

Show example Volkswagen Transporter 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.

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Bryant

13 years of experience

638 reviews

Bryant

13 years of experience

by David

Volkswagen Transporter H4-2.0L - Car starts and then dies - Indianapolis, Indiana

Bryan was about 90 minutes late to the appointment, but kept me informed during the wait. The situation was not critical, so I was fine with the delay. When he arrived and started to work I better understood the situation - Bryant does a thorough job and really works to get you a solution. My 77 VW Transporter was starting but not running. Bryant spend the better part of the hour tracking down the "bug" in the works and in the end was able to get the bus back to running condition. He went above and beyond and I would not hesitate to recommend the service and Bryant to a friend or family member.

Martin

7 years of experience

10 reviews

Martin

7 years of experience

by Mark

Volkswagen Transporter H4-1.8L - Oil/Fluid Leak - Redondo Beach, California

Great and very convenient

Joseph

26 years of experience

34 reviews

Joseph

26 years of experience

by Rene

Volkswagen Transporter H4-1.6L - Car does not shift from park to drive - Pleasant Hill, California

Joseph was great! He was prompt, courteous, and very helpful. He fixed my issue quickly and even helped answer additional questions that I had about what another mechanic had mentioned about my vehicle. It was evident the other mechanic did not do a thorough evaluation on an inspection so that was very nice of him to help me troubleshoot. I will be looking to use him again in the future.

Duane

26 years of experience

589 reviews

Duane

26 years of experience

by Brent

Volkswagen Transporter H4-1.2L - Brake System Flush - San Diego, California

This was our first using Your Mechanic & we are very pleased with process. Duane arrived on time working on our vehicle on a Sunday. All repair work was done to our satisfaction. We would recommend Duane and will use the company's services in the future.

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