I have just finished replacing the thermostat on my 5dr Abarth Selespeed.
If you find that your engine takes a long time to get up to tempereature, or you find the temp drops when moving at speed, but sits about right in traffic the chances are you thermostat is stuffed.
In brief, you have to remove the intake ducting and MAF sensor, remove the coolant return from rad, the 5 coolant pipes from the stat, then comes the fun bit. The thermostat. It is held on with 2 bolts, one is easy, it can be seen and got at with ease, one is under the housing, in a position where a ratchet cannot get to due to clearance issues, a spanner cannot get to due to depth issues and your hands can't get to due to anatomy issues, I ended up removing the lower bolt using the socket, attatched to a mini extension with a hole through its side, then I used a short socket extension to loosen the bolt, then unscrewed it painfully slowly by hand!
It is a hideous job! If you are even thinking about replacing yours, get a garage to do it for you! The original fit FIAT hose clamps alone are a nightmare to get off.
My hands look like I've beening pruning rose bushes by hand! I am literally all in bits.
As I said just a warning. Really, it took me about 2 hours all in all!
However, while the air ducting was off, ideal chance to give it a spray with carb cleaner, mine was covered in yuck.
If you find that your engine takes a long time to get up to tempereature, or you find the temp drops when moving at speed, but sits about right in traffic the chances are you thermostat is stuffed.
In brief, you have to remove the intake ducting and MAF sensor, remove the coolant return from rad, the 5 coolant pipes from the stat, then comes the fun bit. The thermostat. It is held on with 2 bolts, one is easy, it can be seen and got at with ease, one is under the housing, in a position where a ratchet cannot get to due to clearance issues, a spanner cannot get to due to depth issues and your hands can't get to due to anatomy issues, I ended up removing the lower bolt using the socket, attatched to a mini extension with a hole through its side, then I used a short socket extension to loosen the bolt, then unscrewed it painfully slowly by hand!
It is a hideous job! If you are even thinking about replacing yours, get a garage to do it for you! The original fit FIAT hose clamps alone are a nightmare to get off.
My hands look like I've beening pruning rose bushes by hand! I am literally all in bits.
As I said just a warning. Really, it took me about 2 hours all in all!
However, while the air ducting was off, ideal chance to give it a spray with carb cleaner, mine was covered in yuck.