JQP

I have gotten conflicting info about this from all over the place, including from a ClubLexus YouTube video that says it's on the passenger side. The thermostat is on the driver's side of the engine, right?

Audiqv8

Yes, the thermostat housing is held on with three nuts. You will have to drain the radiator and engine block. Then remove the upper hose from the radiator and unbolt the steel hose that connects to the thermostat housing.

JQP

Okay, thanks. I was hoping the diagrams were right. Seems a lot easier to pull out the air box than to pull off all those belts and pulleys on the passenger side. Won't need a jack or jack stands either, looks like, which is good.

salimshah

we have a DIY on thermostat replacement. I have listed hint ... get a magnet.

Is yours stuck open or fails to open? I would recommend to change thermostat at 180K miles interval along with water-pump.

Salim

JQP

I'm assuming it's stuck closed (if it's faulty)...that's what I read corresponds to the engine overheating quickly.

What's the magnet for?

JQP

Do you have a link to the DIY? The only one I found is for later generation and it doesn't apply to 1st generation.

This is the only guide I've found so far:

https://www.justanswer.com/lexus/3y7...hermostat.html

I could definitely use a more detailed, noob-friendly writeup.

salimshah

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...x300-diys.html Post #65

The sticky threads are a must read.

Salim

JQP

Thx Salim.

I just took off the top of my air box and noticed that there was this part just sort of dangling and looking like it wanted to be attached to something. But it wasn't attached to anything. I have attached a photo, does anyone know what it is and what it's supposed to connect to?

salimshah

Remove the box and you will find some hose or opening with in the reach of the dongle, I have been separated from my first gen RX so cant look it up for you.

It has a mounting screw hole ... that makes me think some one did unmount it. This is the reason I dont let anyone touch my vehicles. [this may be the place where I had cut the tape and zip tie it ... you can see the hold [white plastic] with insulation tape holding the wires.

Salim

JQP

I sent a couple more pics to my mechanic buddy, he's going to try to look up the part today. The hose leads to the firewall. His first guess is it's a secondary/auxiliary air/water pump, and that someone bypassed it at some point (I'm the 3rd owner).