So I went to go change out my thermostat on my '01 Cherokee today. Snapped the top bolt off about 3/8" from the head of the bolt. I cant budge the thermostat housing at all.

I was wondering if the top bolt hole on the housing is threaded? I didn't get too crazy with trying to pry it off.

I've searched and read other threads about people snapping the top bolts and am aware of what I will need to do to extract it. But it would be a hell of a lot easier to grab this broken sucker if I could remove the housing first.
Thanks for any input.

 

Once both bolts are out, tap the housing with a rubber mallet to pop it off.

 

The holes in the housing itself shouldn't be threaded so you shoul be free to pry away as long as the other bolts are either out or broken as well. Then just grind some flats on the stuck one, hit it with a torch if necessary and hopefully that'll do the trick.

 

This is the correct way. prying on it could end up additional problems to deal with.

 

Just bang on it with the hammer. I broke mine by over tightening it when I put it back on so be careful oh that . A new one cost about 10 bucks.

 

Best way to break a seal I have found is tap a putty knife in the seam and work it around the edge. That's how I split diff covers, case halves, anything that is sealed with RTV