🔧 Soul - Thermostat Replacement

The thermostat controls engine warm-up and operating temperature. If it sticks open you may get slow heat and poor fuel economy; if it sticks closed you can overheat.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-3 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine; hot coolant can spray and burn you.
• ⚠️ Support your Soul with jack stands before working underneath.
• ⚠️ Coolant is toxic—keep away from kids/pets and clean spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Let the engine cool fully (at least 1-2 hours) before draining coolant.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Drain pan (at least 2-gallon)
• Funnel
• Spill-free funnel kit (specialty)
• 10mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• 3/8" extension set
• Flathead screwdriver
• Hose clamp pliers (specialty)
• Plastic trim clip tool
• Torque wrench (inch-pound or low-range Nm)
• Shop towels
• Plastic gasket scraper

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine thermostat - Qty: 1
• Thermostat gasket / O-ring - Qty: 1
• Engine coolant (Hyundai/Kia compatible P-OAT, 50/50 premix) - Qty: 2-3 gallons
• Distilled water - Qty: 1 gallon (only if using концентрат coolant)
• Hose clamp(s) - Qty: 1-2 (only if your originals are weak)

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and chock a rear wheel.
• Let the engine cool completely.
• Raise the front of your Soul with a floor jack and support it on jack stands.
• Set your climate controls to HOT (this helps coolant flow through the heater core during bleeding).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Relieve pressure safely

• Open the hood.
• Slowly loosen the radiator cap using your hand (use a shop towel on the cap). If you feel any hiss/pressure, tighten it back and wait longer.
• Remove the radiator cap once there is no pressure.

Step 2: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a plastic trim clip tool and flathead screwdriver to remove the clips/screws holding the lower engine cover.
• Set the cover and clips aside so you don’t lose them.

Step 3: Drain the coolant

• Place a drain pan under the radiator drain area.
• Open the radiator drain (petcock) by hand or with a flathead screwdriver (depending on style) and drain the coolant.
• After flow slows, close the drain.

Step 4: Access the thermostat housing

• From the top, locate the thermostat housing at the end of the large radiator hose going to the engine.
• If an intake duct or cover blocks access, remove it using a 10mm socket and 3/8" ratchet.

Step 5: Remove the radiator hose from the housing

• Use hose clamp pliers (specialty) to compress the clamp and slide it back on the hose.
• Twist the hose gently to break it loose, then pull it off. Don’t pry on plastic fittings.
• Catch any remaining coolant in your drain pan.

Step 6: Remove the thermostat housing

• Remove the housing bolts using a 10mm socket (some fasteners may be 12mm socket) with a 3/8" ratchet and 3/8" extension.
• Carefully separate the housing. Use a plastic gasket scraper only if needed.

Step 7: Replace the thermostat and seal

• Remove the old thermostat and the old gasket/O-ring by hand.
• Clean the mating surfaces using a plastic gasket scraper and shop towels. The surfaces must be clean and dry.
• Install the new thermostat in the same orientation as the old one.
• Install the new gasket/O-ring.

Step 8: Reinstall the housing and torque bolts

• Reinstall the thermostat housing and hand-start all bolts.
• Tighten evenly using a 10mm socket and 3/8" ratchet.
• Final-tighten with a torque wrench (a torque wrench is a tool that tightens bolts to a specific measured force): Torque to 11.8 Nm (9 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reconnect the hose

• Push the hose fully onto the housing.
• Reposition the clamp using hose clamp pliers (specialty) so it sits in the same spot as before.

Step 10: Refill coolant

• Make sure the radiator drain is closed.
• Fill the radiator slowly using a funnel with the correct 50/50 premix P-OAT coolant until full.
• Fill the overflow tank to the FULL line.

Step 11: Bleed air from the cooling system

• Install a spill-free funnel kit (specialty) on the radiator filler neck (it helps keep the radiator “full” while air burps out).
• Start the engine and let it idle. Keep the cabin heat set to HOT.
• As the engine warms up, watch for air bubbles in the funnel and add coolant as needed.
• When the upper radiator hose gets hot and you see steady flow (thermostat opened), let it run until the radiator fan cycles on/off once.
• Shut the engine off, let it cool, then remove the funnel and install the radiator cap.

Step 12: Reinstall the splash shield and lower the vehicle

• Reinstall the lower cover using the plastic trim clip tool and flathead screwdriver.
• Lower the vehicle from the jack stands using the floor jack.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and check for leaks around the thermostat housing and hose connection.
• Verify the cabin heater blows hot air once warmed up.
• After your first drive and full cool-down, recheck the overflow tank and top off to the FULL line if needed.
• If the temperature gauge rises abnormally or you hear gurgling, stop and re-bleed the system.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $40-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$410 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5-2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.