2019 Grand Caravan coolant thermostat question

[Chief2025]

My wife's Grand Caravan just threw a check engine light, code P0128. I have read that 99% of the time, this is caused by a bad coolant thermostat. Looks easy enough to replace.

My dilemma is whether to go OEM or aftermarket. I've been watching a lot of Royalty Auto, South Main, and Pine Hollow, as well as a few others, so I know the opinion that professional mechanics have about crappy aftermarket parts. However, I REALLY don't like the plastic housing on the OEM. It just seems inappropriate and, well, cheap. 1A Auto has an aluminum one that I am tempted on. The housing would be superior, but I'm not sure about the quality of the functional thermostat part.

Also, thinking like the YouTube mechanics that I watch, I'm wondering if I should do some more diagnosis to confirm that it is, indeed, the thermostat. I don't know what more I would do, though.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Aftermarket thermostats are garbage.....go oem

 

[Chief2025]

I don't understand the obsession over plastic components. So the plastic thermostat housing was fine for 7 years now, but when it comes to the replacement, it's somehow an issue? The logic simply doesn't follow.

Get the OEM one and don't worry about it.

Now, the plastic 'Y" connectors are another story. These are documented to fail at the least desirable moments, like a family trip, hundreds or thousands of miles away from home. These should be changed pro-actively.

Agreed

 

[Marcozi]

The installation of aftermarket cooling system parts is strictly verboten.