At least not their coolant thermostats. My motor hasn't been able to warm up and idle down for the past couple days so I figured something was up.


I'm wondering if I should claim the warranty or get store credit on a higher quality piece.

You have a heater problem. See cave. Powertrain, engine, cooling, Thermostat.

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(Jurassic Park)

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Have you verified actual thermostat operation by putting it in hot/boiling water with a thermometer?
As for the bend in the retainer bracket...are you sure you didnt force it down the neck opening??

Good news is Autozone usually has lifetime limited warranties on most of their stuff.

Kit

I installed the heater core new last winter and it worked great so I dont think it got clogged. Plus I flushed the coolant so it isn't full of junk to clog it. I lubed the ring with silicone grease and installed it snug in the housing, no forcing. It is more likely that a pipe got crushed so i'll check for that.

I called Autozone and they told me they dont have any kind of warranty at all on any thermostat! What's that all about? I coulda swore it had a warranty.

Are the "legs" brass looking? I use STANT thermostats - steel legs, never had the problem again.

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My 3.4L S/C 87 GT
& Super Duty 4 Indy

The frame is steel in color. I think the problem is that it doesn't have much of a rib going down the sides of the frame. The last one I had, which i tossed cause the o ring was gone, had a full 90 degree bend all the way down the legs and it was solid. I remember standing at the counter at autozone, pulling this one out of the box to inspect and thinking, "looks flimsy". I'm still going to investigate other possible causes.

Definitely the autozone thermostat. I got into an argument with the clerk because it was so junky it looked like a pretzel just like yours. Went to advance and picked up a stant thermostat and never had a problem after. MUCH beefier

Is duralast even made in the USA, I'm thinking duralast products are made in mexico. So thats probly my be your problem right there.

I have not had that problem but after replacing two stats in my GP I ask if they had a better grade of stat. Oreilly's carry a standard and a better stat even in Stant. The standard would last about 1 year and start to float open not letting the engine get to op temp. I now ask for the better and so far am two year in and no problems yet. Guess the adage you get what you pay for goes for stats also.

Just to let you know all products at AutoZone have a 90 day warranty no matter what it is. If you go back ask for a fail-safe thermo, it is better and stronger. If the fail-safe does go bad it will stay open and let the coolant flow and not overheat. If you do not like the way you are treated ask for the DM's number.

I always go with O'Reilly's. I work there and I haven't heard any complaints about our Murray thermostats. I forget the warranty.

quote Originally posted by 86gtzone: Just to let you know all products at AutoZone have a 90 day warranty no matter what it is. If you go back ask for a fail-safe thermo, it is better and stronger. If the fail-safe does go bad it will stay open and let the coolant flow and not overheat. If you do not like the way you are treated ask for the DM's number.

I asked to return it. They said once it was installed they could not refund the money. Why would I exchange a part that obviously would not work again. They told me that it was installed improperly and that I must have tightened down the bolts too hard. I told them there are no bolts on my car. They were baffled. I told them to shove it. I decided on that day that they would never receive any more of my business, and if anyone asks, I refer friends and family elsewhere. I figure that is more effective then complaining to anymore idiots in the company.

when i got my fiero i noticed it wasnt getting hot, poped the stat out, and looked just like that, droped a stant in it, never had a problem again.

duralast IS JUNK.

bought 3 stants in 3 months from advanced, didn't bent, but didn't OPEN EITHER ! you say china junk, I've seen alot of usa stuff I wouldn't brag about either ! sad but true.

quote Originally posted by Freshj: I asked to return it. They said once it was installed they could not refund the money. Why would I exchange a part that obviously would not work again. They told me that it was installed improperly and that I must have tightened down the bolts too hard. I told them there are no bolts on my car. They were baffled. I told them to shove it. I decided on that day that they would never receive any more of my business, and if anyone asks, I refer friends and family elsewhere. I figure that is more effective then complaining to anymore idiots in the company.

Easy solution. Get your replacement unit, then once you have it in hand, hand it back and say "I'd like my refund for my never-installed product, please. Thank you."

BWAAHAAAA!!!!! Mine did the exact same thing. I went through three of those worthless Durajunk thermos. I bought an AC Delco and haven't had a problem since.

1 Thing I will say about Advanced, if ANY part that I bought from them ever goes bad, even if I don't have a recsipt, or remember exactly when(even years ago) They Instantly replace it , no problem ! But that doesn't help all the wasted TIME putting in & removeing defect parts. I was tols, because the chinese sell their parts so cheap, the American companies have started to "cut corners" just to stay competative ! So, I guess when iot comes to parts, it's a "crapshoot"

Americans have demanded on,,insisted ,,fought for the lowest price,, guess what ? more cheaper crap is comming,, more and more USA companies move to foreign countries we demand it,,we get it..think about it..

the lowest price has destroyed many companies..americans love chinese low price,, they HATE american companies that charge a higher price ,,many have heard of cardone rebuilders they are falling now because of this,,parts have to be rebuilt faster..
I have gone to the foreign side ,, no choice

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 09-13-2009).]

quote Originally posted by uhlanstan: Americans have demanded on,,insisted ,,fought for the lowest price,, guess what ? more cheaper crap is comming,, more and more USA companies move to foreign countries we demand it,,we get it..think about it

True most Americans want to buy soley on price not realizing that they will need to purchase that part multiple times instead of spending the extra buck and doing the job right the first time. Chinese parts are not cheaper. They are more expensive as they don't last and you end up buying another one ( most often the better one) and having to replace it.

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