How to Replace Thermostat 05-11 Honda Civic

Difficulty: Intermediate · About 60 min · Honda Civic

Replace the thermostat and bleed the cooling system on a 2005-2011 Honda Civic.

Steps

1. Drain the coolant

   Open the hood, raise and support the car, loosen the drain plug with pliers, let it drain into a pan, then hand-tighten the plug.

2. Remove the old thermostat

   With a drain pan ready, loosen the upper radiator hose's clamp and disconnect it, loosen the thermostat housing's 10mm bolts, separate the bracket from the housing, remove the housing, then remove the thermostat with a pick.

3. Install the new thermostat

   Insert it into place, set the housing on and the bracket to it, tighten its 10mm bolts, connect the hose, then tighten its clamp.

4. Refill the coolant

   Remove the radiator cap, top it off with the correct coolant mixture, leave the funnel in with a drain pan below, run the car and watch for bubbles while topping off coolant, wait until the level stops dropping and heat flows from the vents, then shut it off, refit the cap, top off the overflow bottle, and monitor levels on a test drive.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.