Chevy Malibu with 2.5 L Engine Water Pump, Thermostat, and Coolant Reservoir Bottle

Brian Eslick from How to Automotive www.howtoautomo... takes you step-by-step through the process of replacing the water pump, thermostat, and coolant resevoir on a Chevy Malibu with 2.5L engine.
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Owing to factors beyond the control of How to Automotive/Brian Eslick, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modification of this information, or improper use of this information. How to Automotive/Brian Eslick assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any information contained in this video. How to Automotive/Brian Eslick recommends safe practice when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jacks and jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemical lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Because of factors beyond the control of How to Automotive/Brian Eslick, no information contained in this video shall express or imply warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How to Automotive/Brian Eslick. #howtoautomotive

[@napierdelticdiesel]

Just did this job. Some tips: 1. A petcock is located on the right side of the rad. Attach some tubing to its outlet and avoid a lot of splashing. Only open the petcock enough to allow a good flow to drain the rad (remove coolant bottle cap too). I don't know if you open the petcock fully if it would pop out and splash every where. 2. As the thermostat and outlet are one manufactured piece, keep the old one grind the ears off what is holding the thermostat in place. Stand aside when doing this as that thermostat spring really goes. Now use the old thermostat housing when you need to flush the coolant and keep it for future flushing's. 3. Top up your coolant the next day if needed, as air will bleed out over time. 4. Put your heater on full and fan to high speed. This will purge old coolant and air from the system after filling.

[@dovobis]

Thank you for making this video. You saved me a lot of stress and time. I was actually impressed with how easy it was to get to everything on this car so far.

[@robertrodriguez2412]

Thanks for the video. This water pump fit my 2014 Chevy Malibu Eco-Tec 2.5 engine. Although on Amazon & local auto parts stores called for a different part#. The hardest part was unclipping the wire connector on the exhaust sensor. Thank you!

[@stickpick73]

Yeah I can't get it off!

[@luigigonzalez5062]

Like always another job done right, I like this water pump so much better over De older 2.4 ecotec

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Overall this one’s not too bad.

[@deespasojevic3013]

Ecotecs 2.4 suck

[@poppacapinya]

Finally an in depth video i will watch your videos when im working on a gm . For the ford stuff i like fordtech make you loco guy he is also very detailed. Keep up the great work

[@rguby01]

Fantastic instructional video!!!

[@unrealtournament436]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@larrycombs8604]

I never trust those spring clamps even if you get them back in the same unless it's a new clamp a new hose

[@francochavez1743]

P00B7 code on my 2013 malibu. the strangest thing happened. started the car this morning. overheat display and the temp sensor temp was pinned to hot on the gauge. then I shut it off and waited for bout 10 minutes . it went back to normal. then after a while, the needle started bouncing from norm to hot. no leaks no noise from belt fans came on full blast. and the hose was not hot at all.

[@joeyoungs8426]

Too late I’m sure but for anyone else wondering, the thermostat is electronically controlled and doesn’t open fully so flow is restricted and it overheats. It’s happened to me twice. I changed the thermostat, the rad temp sensor and water outlet sensor and issue resolved. Probably only the thermostat needed replacing but the sensors are cheap and easy to replace. HOWEVER, because of that code, the thermostat control will hold it open and the car will never get to its proper operating temp so you need to clear the code so the thermostat control starts working again. I found this out after parts replacement that my scanner showed about 170d coolant temp on a lengthy test drive. Once I cleared that code it rose to about 210 give or take.

[@mikenadeau527]

Thanks for the helpful video

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@petar443]

Great video as always. BTW: This car cooling system is very bad rusted..and all that stop leak...This guy is never gonna have proper heater in very low winter temps...if he don't flush the system with acid based cleaner and then change all cooling system components and hoses incl. heater core and big radiator..

[@HowtoAutomotive]

The flash was recommended and we did it when he came back for the thermostat.

[@user-ef5qm8fp4v]

Would this be the same procedure on a 2017 Impala 2.5 L? Not so much for the water pump, but for the belt and tensionner pulley.

[@ozzstars_cars]

Hey Brian nice job with the video. Do you use a coolant vacuum/refill tool? i'm thinking of buying a new one for checking leaks and easy filling.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

No I filled it the old-fashioned way.

[@ozzstars_cars]

@@HowtoAutomotive yup that is exactly what she told me. 😂😀😀

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Ozzstar 🤓

[@oggamerbk]

What is the bar that you replaced with that runs from pump to other side by resivior

[@24BlackMamba8]

How long did this take? Im trying to estimate how much this will cost me to get it fix.

[@carlosazua2525]

I have ? Mycar was leaking coolant i drained it so i put water does this car need coolant in general or can i keep putting water in it same car as video

[@napierdelticdiesel]

Coolant not only helps to cool but prevents freeze-up. Also coolant has additives that fight corrosion within the system and engine as well as lubricating the water pump. Pure water has a lower boiling point than a 50/50 coolant mix which will cause overheating (not good for aluminum engines).

[@Roberto-gp3yx]

I have the 2015 LT model I keep getting the P0420 code even tho I have changed both O2 sensors Would this indicate that my catalytic converter is no longer working properly? Mind you my Malibu has 258,598 miles If you come across a catalytic converter issue definitely make a video about it please So far the check engine light went away on its own and I have had roughly 1 month in a half that the check engine light hasn’t come back

[@Fried_chicken_burger]

There is no bleeder valve to let the air out? I have a Chevy Malibu Hybrid 2016, I didn't find bleeder valve, non-hybrid also don't have bleeder valve?

[@AnthrozoologyTV]

How much does this job cost? I need this done

[@jonathanblackwell1098]

My belt popped off and mine ran hot. In ideas on what went wrong?

[@abenaadepa8286]

Very powerful video .Please am in need of Chevy Malibu 2015 fuse board can you pls help me get on to buy..thank you

[@reasonablerage4370]

Not getting another Chevy, sticking with Honda, these vehicles have issues before 100km which is horrible

[@24BlackMamba8]

Tell me about it. Over $3000 put into this car since last summer. Most of it was on the catalytic converter needing to be changed out. Then the radiator, valve cover gasket replaced and now I might need the water pump and thermostat replaced. 🤦

[@8power0]

WHAT WAS THAT TORQUE WRENCH YOU WHERE USING AND GREAT VIDEO THANKS !

[@HowtoAutomotive]

It was just a standard threeeights click type torque wrench. Nothing special about it.

[@8power0]

@@HowtoAutomotive WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR A LOW COST BUT GOOD FLEX 3/8 TORQUE WRENCH THANKS ?

[@hostilityy]

@@8power0 WHO THE HELL TYPES IN ALL CAPS? YOU'RE SPECIAL OR SOMETHING? anyways to answer your question, harbor freight torque wrenches are pretty good imo. I've used their inch pound torque wrenches to assemble motorcycle engines after removing cams and heads etc. just make sure you test them at the store if you can e.g the feel of what 5ftlb is and if it clicks with such pressure. I tested some duds there that were left on max torque value for who knows how long. gotta be zero for storage

[@8power0]

@@hostilityy THANK YOU I WILL LOOK IN TO THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET A FLEXIBLE ONE SO I WILL DO MY BEST AT TESTING IT .

[@antoniomontero4704]

What do u call the connector to the thermostat I can’t find a pigtail for that piece

[@blakeroberts8394]

Hello, I've currently been elbow deep in my 2014 malibu lt 2.5, I'm currently experiencing loss of power and stalling issues. I've noticed a coolant leak among all the other problems, it's leaking on the same side of where u working on this one. I was wondering (since I'm not a licensed mechanic) if it could be leaking from there, maybe another place my reservoir is almost empty every morning, yes my gf does run her heat another, while also driving an hour to work everyday, when the car is off it just leaks out and u can watch as a puddle forms under the car, any idea on what my problem could be, I'm thinking it's the water pump/ thermo housing unit, seeing as how the it spits coolant when the motor is running which comes from around the belts it seems like its spiting right behind the belts, also on the right side of where u did that bar across the front, it's seems to be leaking on that side as well

[@24BlackMamba8]

I have the exact issue. I'm worried that it is the water pump/thermostat since I just had so much work done. Radiator and coolant tank are the most recent things that have been replaced and it's still leaking from that area

[@dronesandstuff61]

Couldn't you just replace the gasket and reuse the old pump? ACDelco 251-2064

[@bernardhall6062]

6:05 you talked about an oil leak. Do you have a video on fixing that leak? What would that leak be?

[@HowtoAutomotive]

I don’t on the Chevy sorry.

[@bernardhall6062]

@@HowtoAutomotive would this be the timing chain cover gasket?

[@24BlackMamba8]

​@@bernardhall6062I don't know if this helps you now, but for me it was the valve gasket that needed to be replaced. That stopped the oil leak.

[@carlosrleon2012]

What gloves are those are they durable ?

[@silvac196]

What was the reason for changing the reservoir tank??

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Cxrlos_Truckin full of stop leak

[@peterboissiere9684]

Do u ever use never seize on exhaust bolts

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Only at the factory put it on there otherwise no I do not use that stuff.

[@deathatthefeast5326]

All that’s and didn’t even do hoses. Wow.