I opened the air box and the thermostat was in the failed position [fully retracted on a warm day letting only heated air in and shutting out cool air]. Is there anyone in Southern California with experience removing the entire shutter assembly AND successfully passing the CA smog test without it? I reattached the silver pre-heat tube so the air box appears normal. Now pre-heated and outside air both flow into the air cleaner all the time.

As an aside, with the assembly removed my stock 1988 245A wagon feels like it gained 15-20 more horsepower and when warm no longer stumbles upon gentle acceleration. It does not appear that I fried the AMM. I understand now why many have advocated removing the t-stat assembly. But I am required to take it to a smog test-only station every two years, have always passed the test and don't want fail it.

I looked at the entire shutter assembly which is out of the airbox. Even after I squirted some lube on all moving parts it required significant effort to move the shutter, more than that little thermostat could possibly generate. It appears there is a smaller spring down where the shutter is and I can make the shutter move by hand but not when depressing the plastic shaft with the approx 3" spring that the small thermostat is supposed to press. The shutter does not move from one position to the other. Is it toast?

And how the heck do you get a new and extended thermostat valve back in anyway?

Sorry for the length of this post.