The Lucida is overheating, and I want ot remove the thermostat, I think I know where it is, but don't know how to remove it. Help?

Alistair Simpson, March 2008

Hi I've got a 1996 toyota lucida peoplemover heater no hot ear only cold idvice

donald, July 2017

To replace the Lucida Diesel thermostat a lot more than just removing the inspection covers under the front seats needed to be done.
The dirvers seat had to be removed using a 15mm socket, the drivers seat support bracket next to the handbrake needed to be removed using a 15mm socket, the drivers side carpet/door runners held on with 3 cross head screws and pressed on for good measures. With the carpet and the inspection covers removed from under the front seats, remove the 2 single support arm retaining nuts using a 12mm spanner, now remove the 6 or so 12mm retaining nuts which holds down the cover which the seats rest on, most of the nuts are under the carpet hence the reason for taking out the drivers seat, this just gives you enough slack to get easy access to the nuts, the most difficut one is near the centre console.
Once the cowelling is removed(taking care not to split the plastic gater from around the handbrake) the thermostat housing is visible. Using a 10mm spanner, remove the 2 nuts holding the thermostat housing, 1 10mm nut holding the throttle cable and 1 final 10 mm nut to release the entire cast alluminium housing. Gentle release the pressure on the housing by moving it backwards and forwards, it will eventually prize off, thoughout this excercise there is no need to remove the 2 inch rubber hose feed. The old thermostat should now be clearly visible, replace the old thermostat. As a preventative measure release the cap on the plastic radiator tank under the bonnet.
Now replace the 2 10mm nuts holding the thermostat housing, throttle cable and retaining nuts. Start the engine to ensure no leaks, once satisfied that the tempreture gage moves a little more than before and heater has some warm air being circulated, then reverse the first procedure, ie replace the cover, support arm, inspection covers, carpet runners, carpet under the front seats, drivers seat support leg next to the handbrake and finally the drivers seat. One final thing remember not to trap the fuel cap release cable when securing the drivers seat support leg as this could prove to be embarrassing. Take the vehicle for a test drive.

Mick, January 2010

its quite easy to do, first remove both under seat panels and on passenger side you will see a water hose going on to an alloy pipe about 2 inches in dimeter that pipe goes from passenger side to drivers side it runs directly under gear stick and is held down with two 10mm(spanner) size at drivers side theres also one bolt 10 mm(spanner size)at passenger side just as support.. there is a 12mm(spanner size) bolt at pass side that is a bleed screw carefull not to break off.thats about it.

waltsy, April 2008