Thermostat Replacement 3.5 Toyota Highlander/ Lexus RX350 2008 - 2016 p0128
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Is your Toyota Highlander / Lexus Rx350 overheating or giving you code p0128? the problem is likely the thermostat, in this diy I walk you through how to replace the thermostat in a 2008 to 2016 Toyota Highlander with a 3.5 v6. If you find this video Helpful subscribe, I put out a repair video every week.Thanks for watching, see you in the next video.
link to the belt tool used - amzn.to/3gwoA7l
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Thank you for the video! I was able to change thermostat and clear the P0128 code on my Lexus with your guidance. Tips for others who are researching this job:
1) Replace the serpentine belt and lower radiator hose since these are old and you'll need to remove them for the job. Plus, my radiator hose was essentially baked on to the plastic radiator nipple. I had to slice it off to remove. If you crack that radiator nipple you have a much bigger problem to deal with. Buy the $30 hose and replace.
2) You 100% need to remove the Idle pully to get to the upper thermostat housing 10mm nut. That pully bolt was a bitch to break loose.
3) The upper 10mm nut is diagonal from the bottom nut that you can visualize. You need to find that nut with your extension somewhat blind. I had an extra set of eyes/hands shining a light through the passenger side wheel well and he could just barely see the tip of the housing bolt. He was able to guide me as I tried to catch the nut. Did the same routine to get the nut back on.
4) You can "lock" the tensioner loose by placing an allen-key through the hole and into the gap behind it. This makes getting the belt on/off much easier. When putting the belt back on, place the belt around the tensioner last.
As it turned out, the overheating problem on my '09 Highlander was due to a coolant leak caused by the rear sway bar in contact and rubbing through the auxiliary heater tube assembly. I'll refer to your video for future thermostat replacements.
Thank you for sharing. The most difficult part of this job was getting the top 10mm nut started for the thermostat housing.
Agreed, somehow I got my fingers back there and got the nut on their by hand, it felt like a miracle lol
Ya this is a PITA. Luckily its the revised version, and not the style that have to take off the motor mount, the bracket the motor mount is bolted to, and a bumch of other crap since the tstat housing isnt the 2 piece like this one and the tstat is inside the block, not outside like this one. Idk why toyota thought it was good idea to design it like this. Oh yea, becaduse it was the enginerds that dont have to work on it in the future
@jacksmith2315 I have two Toyota Rav4 with the 3.5L V6 engine. Eventually the thermostat on my other one is going to fail. Removing the "s" shaped thermostat housing alone will make it very difficult getting that upper 10mm nut started. As you mentioned, best is to remove the engine upper supports and other brackets to ease the installation. Attempts to start the 10mm nut almost put me in tears. And I have tiny hands.LOL.
Hey what year vehicle did you run into this on?@jacksmith2315
@@MichaelRiach 2010 Toyota Rav4
Thank you! Just did this job and it fixed check engine light and temp on the engine is no nlonger stuck at a bottom.
I did it without undoing bottom hose (gave up on trying to do it normal way) and yes coolant was everywhere from the top hose😂
Didnt have pulley tool so had to improvise with a wrench and pliers 😅 and swivel head ractchet wasnt used either 😅. Whoever is trying to fix it at home, it is doable but due to tight space pain in the butt. Hardest part for me was to put pulley back on, if u have second set of hands, would make it a lot easier.
Glad you got it done. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for posting the video. This really saved me some time. The position the thermostat housing is located in is atrocious.
Absolutely ridiculous set up. And this is the easy/revised version. Theres another version thats not a 2 piece housing like this one, so have to take of the entire housing since the tstat is in the block, not outside like this one. The main part of the housing is under the bracket the motor mount is bolted to. So much more disassembly than this one.
Thanks for the video bro, but working at nighttime? Couldn't do it in better light during the day?
With the nut to hold it in the socket, place a small piece of work towel in the socket and push the nut in.
Great video! Thanks for sharing!😁
I replaced the alternator on 2008 toyota highlander and where its located --- what a difficult task. There is no room to do anything especially with my beefy hands.
Wait till you to replace control arms on these vehicles you have to raise the engine and get the engine off the engine mounts 😅
Thank you. You helped me!!!
Very helpful thank u!
So, when you was removing iddle puley, what did you do? Push the tentioner forward to remove belt from alternator? So the belt after was sitting on AC compressor, right?
The belt is removed with a 14mm on the tensioner ( not the idler pulley), pushing toward the back of the car. After that, the belt can be placed out of the way, on top of the compressor is fine.
@@GrimRepair Do I expect any issues when trying to get belt back to alternator? What I understand, I apply pressure back to tentioner, grip the belt by nand that sits on compressor and trying to put back to alternator. I'm really worried not to screw everything to that the belt is completely out unwittingly
@kovalenkoihor4325 The belt goes back on by pushing against the tensioner with the 14mm, and that should give you enough slack to put the belt back on. There is a belt routing diagram in this video. I didn't have any issues, but I can't speak for every person or every vehicle. If you got it off, I would think you could get it back on.
Very helpful, but perhaps more work than I have time for right now. If I have a repair shop do it, would it reasonable to ask for a coolant system flush as part of the job? Or maybe I wouldn't even need to ask, as it looks like they'd almost need to flush the system to replace the thermostat.
I would ask, they may or may not do it.
All good but you should use genuine part not after market it’s to much work to doit again few months down the road......... price difference only few dollars.......
What's up bro.... My lexus rx 350 starts to overheating after awhile of drinking.... no antifreeze is leaking and no white smoke is coming out of the exhaust. Do I have a bad thermostat that is stuck in the close position?
That's the most common reason for overheating. Also check to make sure the fans come on.
I just had the same issue driving back from Myrtle beach. 200+ miles near red line, I made it though. I’m sure it’s the thermostat. Were able to replace yours?
👍
Thanks for the video I just bought the thermostat but the new one doesn't have the gasket do I need to buy it separately I haven't taken the old one out yet
If it didn't come with one then yes.
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Hey man just got a p0128 today in the 09 highlander, its also the 3.5, would the sensor be a good place to start for this fix, noticed the last 2 days the temp guauge in the car climbing slower than normal. Also highway driving made it drop to the "cold" range. And is the sensor near this i
didnt see it in this video..
I would start with the thermostat. The temp sensor for the gauge is separate from the one the computer sees. So it sounds like your car is in fact running cold, most likely due to your thermostat being stuck open.
@@GrimRepair awesome ill check it out thanks for the reply 😀
No problem, let us know how it goes.
DITTO! exact same thing happening to my 07 RX350 now. Thank you!
Does coolant spray mean the thermostat needs replacing too? My higkabder just started doing that and I can't figure out why
Spray from where? If it's anywhere but the over flow tank then it means its leaking. If it from the overflow that means it's overheating and it could be a bad thermostat. It could also be something else, if the fans are coming on and the cooling system isn't corroded, I would be guessing over the internet that it's the thermostat.
@@GrimRepair the hoses are good the fans still work, the A/C still works too
HI, Grim. I have Highlander 2018. I need to change my thermostat. Is it same as yours?
I am not sure, if it has a 3.5 I can't imagine it changed that much . does it look the same?
@Korbyn Atlas Whoa! Not only are you @ing incorrectly, it's so fucking obvious you're both bots! Please, shut the fuck up!
What mileage does it need to be replaced? Have 100k on mine
I wouldn't replace it unless it was giving me problems, or if I was in there for some other reason.
@@GrimRepair I live in a cold climate and the heat coming out of my highlander is pretty mild to me for a v6 engine. You think this is typical or it might be stuck open? (Just have this car for 10k miles.) My AC is also very mild for some reason. I compare this to our other family car Hyundai where it blows really cold and really hot. Any suggestions?
@@trendingtrader7240 What does the engine temp gauge say? Gas engines run around 200 degrees F regardless of cylinders. On modern cars the check engine light usually comes on if you have a bad thermostat. If the engine is up to temp, your poor heating could be caused by a clogged heater core or something going wrong with your blend door system.
@@GrimRepair Mine runs a little lower than half way from c to h. No digital temps. Just wondering if your heat/ac overwhelms you on Max or not. Mine takes 15min to really heat up and never overwhelms me on Max AC. Ty
@@trendingtrader7240 If you put a thermometer in your vent we could compare better. What I find overwhelming you may not. If you have poor performance from both your heat and ac, I suspect something is wrong with your blend door. Most likely the actuator motor. it sound like hot and cold are blowing at the same time. because the door is stuck somewhere in the middle.
That damn inside one. What if I wanted to look at it?🤣🤣🤣🤣
Can ypu remove the thermostat housing without remiving the pulley? I'm planning to work on my 2009 soon. Ty
I don't think so, if you're able to. Please let me know.
If I removed it in the video it probably had to be removed.
I want my 2019 to run cooler than the OEM? Is there a thermostat which opens up bit sooner for a cooler running motor?
I am sure there is. Your cars computer is always trying to run at operating temperature, and when it is below that it will be adding fuel to try to warm it up. The computer would not only be wasting fuel but it would also make the check engine light come on giving you a code p0128.
Are you overheating?
No not overheating just would like for the engine to run cooler. Do you know the OEM temp the thermostat opens up at?
My 04 Dodge OEM thermo temp is around 203 or so and I have been using a 180 thermostat for year's now. I don't really see a difference in fuel, still a gas guzzler ha!! But idk about these newer car's nowadays. Like you said it's all computerised. I was just wondering, really for preference, if there was a cooler thermostat out there so maybe I could swap it out on the Highlander.
@@that_guy89x89 I believe it is 195f, they will probably offer different Temps at the parts store. If it was me I wouldn't mess with it, it will do more harm than good.
Hi bro, is it same applies to harrier 2011
What do you mean?
Hi, if I take my Lexus RX 350 to an independent garage, how much do you think they’d charge for a repair like this?
It's probably an hours labor. Add a little more time if they flush out the system, which would be a good idea
Is that engine a 2GR-FE?
Idk, it's a 3.5 litre from a 2006 highlander.
Hey man I have a es350 2010 lexus and the fans won’t turn on and I replaced the relay you think this could be the issue ? Or the coolant temp switch?
Is it getting up to temp? Do the fans come on when you turn on the ac?
@@GrimRepair the fans don’t come on even with the ac turned on
@@sidewayzempire7237 My next step would be to check the fuse/ fuses then see if I had battery voltage at the fans when the ac is on. Some cars have more than 1 relay so check that there aren't more than 1. Let me know what you find.
Replace the electric fans
Thanks, great video! How long (when should I replace Thermostat, mileage) Should I replace the thermostat at 90k when I replace the timing belt in my Highlander - while I'm in there?
It doesn't have a scheduled interval. If you are removing the thermostat housing, I would go ahead and replace it. Thanks for watching.
Replacing the thermostat was just part of a bigger job.
ua-cam.com/video/ksudT55ldJc/v-deo.html
Hi, Grim Repair. How many miles this highlander had?
I think it had around 160,000 miles.
Uh daytime good lol
@davidtrevino5911 yeah I agree. I wish I had the time to get everything done in the daytime.
What's up
Merry Christmas
What a PITA this job is. Terrible design. No thermostat should be this much disassembly/this much work to get to. Funny part is, this is the easy version of these motors. There's a different style tstat housing that isnt the 2 piece, so have to take off the motor mount, the bracket the motor mount bolts to, and a bunch of other crap to get the part of the housing thats bolted to the front of the block. Its insane they would design it that way. At least the revised it to this version which makes it a little easier.
You should check out the alternator video for this same car.
@@GrimRepairoh jeez...i dont even want to know. Can only imagine by seeing how burried it is . Toyota makes some great cars, but some of their designs for future servicing was not thought out well. So many ppl bash BMW, i actually like working on BMWs. They really arent all that hard. Might have to take off an extra part or two, but generally the fasteners arent terrible to get to.
Just did a pump, thermostat, pulleys and belt on this car. I now understand why they recommend dropping engine. Insanely and unnecessarily difficult.
Toyota is a piece of crap cars. Don't believe me check out the paint on the older Toyotas