Thermostat Location

[randy k]

Mama- has an 02 with V8-
Need to change thermostat.
Done it on older Fords.
Not sure were it is on on hers.
any hints or links

Thanks

 

[thepotroast]

This picture is of a V8 on an 04 I believe, same premise however. Pull off the V8 cover/shroud on the top. Disconnect the upper hose that goes into the water neck (area I have circled).

There should be 3 hex-head bolts going downward (towards the ground) on the water neck. Undo those, and take off the neck. You will have coolant spill when you do this (and also when you take off the upper hose). When you separate the water neck from the thermostat housing, you want to make sure you hang onto that large rubber o-ring which is your gasket. If it's in good shape, reuse it....if not, replace.

Your thermostat is inside that housing, pop it out and throw a new one in. I had to order the "gasket" online because Advance Auto and Auto Zone did not carry it, they gave me a paper gasket and what you pull apart there houses a large o-ring about the diameter of a coffee cup.

Hope this helps!