Crown Thermostat Advisory!

woodtick · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:49 pm

Hello all,

As you have probably guessed, I just replaced my thermostat. I ordered it from ID Parts on Thursday and it arrived yesterday. Last night I installed it and this morning flushed and refilled the system. After refilling with 2 gallons of Zerex/ 1 gallon of distilled and "burping" the system, I took it for a test drive.

MUCH to my dismay, the hose barb in the below photo started to leak profusely. :banghead:

I lost a bunch of my anti freeze, to the tune of $18 ish a gallon. :furious:

As the photo shows, this "oem" replacement had no sealant on the threads.

Upon taking the hoses back off, I found it to also be only finger tight. :roll:

This does not impress me at all. The ones from Jeep never had this issue. Just for kicks, I tried to get the old one apart and couldn't turn it with a wrench without stripping it.

I am up and running because I was able to seal the threads with RTV, however, I will have to drain and refill the system again as I am on running distilled water for now to be sure nothing else leaks, :juggle:

before chancing more wasted antifreeze.

There is good news too. The temp guage now is showing the new thermostat is holding the correct temp.

I will be calling ID parts in the morning. Hopefully, they will work with me.

On an unrelated note as I was cleaning up when finished, the window I had open on the garage suddenly slammed shut which caused the glass to break. :roll:

poop

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:02 pm

That stinks! Crown has been known for inferior quality. I do not use, sell, or recommend Crown to anyone... that is just my :2cents:

though. Sorry this happened!

woodtick · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:17 pm

MRausch82 wrote:

That stinks! Crown has been known for inferior quality. I do not use, sell, or recommend Crown to anyone... that is just my :2cents:

though. Sorry this happened!

Well, I'm not pleased about this. If that needs to be sealed, fine, then some directions to do so are in order!

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:23 pm

woodtick wrote:

MRausch82 wrote:

That stinks! Crown has been known for inferior quality. I do not use, sell, or recommend Crown to anyone... that is just my :2cents:

though. Sorry this happened!

Well, I'm not pleased about this. If that needs to be sealed, fine, then some directions to do so are in order!

Should be sealed from the factory. The OE ones made by Behr do not need any additional sealing...

Tree Catcher · **Posted:** Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:43 pm

I have the same crown thermostat and now want to exchange mine for a OEM version for two reasons, the first is the plastic which was NOT tight and the second is that I have not installed it yet but there is some casting flash inside that will come loose and be part of the cooling system. Also the mating surface is not flat where it bolts to the engine. i would have to machine this flat and try to clean out the casting flash that I CAN see, who knows what else is wrong

I am not faulting ID parts but myself for hoping that the Crown version would last longer than the OEM version which is why I wanted to try it... Now not so happy..
Sean

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:09 am

In-hose thermostat means never having to jack around with this nonsense... Just sayin.

Glend · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 6:04 am

I bought a Crown thermostat to replace my old OEM Behr one, thinking it was a good low cost option, and when it arrived and I had a look at it I put it away in a drawer and ordered a Mopar Behr thermostat. It just was not up to the quality of the Behr. Sorry to hear your having problems, but I guess they can be made to work ok with a little attention before install.

woodtick · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 6:33 am

Tree Catcher wrote:

the mating surface is not flat where it bolts to the engine. i would have to machine this flat and try to clean out the casting flash . Now not so happy..
Sean

Mating surface looked ok. No debris inside that I noticed.

geordi wrote:

In-hose thermostat means never having to jack around with this nonsense... Just sayin.

Not gonna have 2 thermostats. What makes more sense is a serviceable thermostat housing from the factory!

Glend wrote:

Sorry to hear your having problems, but I guess they can be made to work ok with a little attention before install.

A new part shouldn't need attention, just installation.

GreenDieselEngineering · **Joined:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1111

The OEM t-stat had some liquid plumber seal on the nipple threads that drys and hardens. The Crown does not apparently. Install the sealant, install nipple and let sit overnight.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:03 am

Nobody should have to do any of these modifications to any new part. Period. I'd return it and just get a Mopar unit. Problem solved. The in line works, I just didn't like having two obstructions instead of one. The passages on the factory thermostat are small enough as it is. Why add more? Just my thought...

cevans · **Joined:** Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:48 pm **Posts:** 278

I'm still using the Crown, and I'm warning people about the loose fitting.

My issues with the OEM unit:
1) Fails immediately - My jeep had 30k miles on it when the thermostat showed first signs of weakness. Now it seems like it is always open and during the winter I never get even close to operating temperature.
2) Cost.

woodtick · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:47 pm

MRausch82 wrote:

I'd return it and just get a Mopar unit. Problem solved.

Too late. I was not going to reinstall the old one. I have sealed the crown unit, and as of now, no leaks.

MRausch82 wrote:

The in line works, I just didn't like having two obstructions instead of one.

X2

Not only that, a bigger concern is overheating. If the t-stat does not close fully, you have no way of knowing if it will open further should the need arise due to towing in hot temps, etc until it's a problem on the road.

This happened to me on another vehicle a number of years ago.

This is also why a serviceable housing is so valuable. For $10- $12 you could change as part of scheduled maintenance.

woodtick · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:56 pm

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention this. I called Corey @ ID Parts and he is going to contact crown and see where this goes. :juggle:

I have also noticed he has posted that he is now warning people to check for this issue. I am sure many will appreciate the heads up from the retailer. :wink:

woodtick · **Posted:** Fri Aug 23, 2013 9:49 pm

Update:

Corey @ I. D. Parts and I spoke today. He informed me that Crown will be issuing a warranty refund. :pepper:

I want to thank Corey for standing behind the products he sells and pursuing a resolution.

Thanks!

thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:33 pm

Id parts are very good, I really like them!

nissanfrontier · **Joined:** Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:09 pm **Posts:** 145

Just remember to drill out new parts holes bigger. Mine was not close enough,spent to much time fitting. Rtv new gasket to new thermo,let dry day. Then rtv to thermo,install. So far no leaks. Not impressed factory part,crown seems fine

Not drilling means you could strip the threads FYI,do not force bolts

Beer_me · **Posted:** Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:18 pm

$%^& it! Wish I would've searched for this issue *BEFORE* I installed a %*^&'n Crown PoS. Got the same leak after filling. My timing belt change had gone so well up to this point. I wasted today because I thought it was the hose below it :banghead:

(which I do think was leaking some too because upon replacement, the leak is now a drip instead of a stream). Guess I'll try the RTV. Man, I hope the Crown idler pulleys are held to higher standards. GRRR! :furious:

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:35 pm

Beer_me wrote:

:furious: $%^& it! Wish I would've searched for this issue *BEFORE* I installed a %*^&'n Crown PoS. Got the same leak after filling. My timing belt change had gone so well up to this point. I wasted today because I thought it was the hose below it :banghead:

(which I do think was leaking some too because upon replacement, the leak is now a drip instead of a stream). Guess I'll try the RTV. Man, I hope the Crown idler pulleys are held to higher standards. GRRR! :furious:

Anything Crown = junk. :2cents:

camo · **Posted:** Sat Feb 01, 2014 12:42 am

Isn't good weekend warrior manners to check parts thoroughly before installing them even if they are new?
Just saying.
:wink:

thermorex · **Posted:** Sat Feb 01, 2014 1:17 am

Yea, crown sucks big time. I got a crown water pump years ago, the mopars were out of stock, lucky I waited till I could get one, crown still on the shelve in the garage and will stay there. Looks good though, lol.

Crown Thermostat Advisory!

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