Removing the Old Thermostat

• 1). Prop the hood open on the engine compartment. Make sure the car has been off for at least thirty minutes.
  
  
• 2). Locate and remove the radiator hose from the engine block. The radiator hose can be removed by unscrewing the hose clamp with a screwdriver. Some might require a pair of pliers and pulling the two tabs on the clamp closer together.
  
  
• 3). Remove the top part of the housing where the hose ends. This housing will be sealed by two bolts. You can remove these bolts with a socket wrench.
  
  
• 4). Pull the thermostat out of the housing with your fingers. The thermostat will just lift out. Remember the position it came out as the new one needs to go in the same way.
  
  
• 5). Clean the lips of the housing area. The old gasket material needs to be scraped clean. The surfaces should be smooth to the touch.
  
  

Installing the Thermostat

• 1). Place the new thermostat on the housing surface. Insert the thermostat in the same position as the old one.
  
  
• 2). Place the gasket around the edges of the housing area. The gasket should be the same size as the housing surface.
  
  
• 3). Bolt the housing back together with the bolts that you removed. Tighten both bolts snug to assist the gasket in making a proper seal.
  
  
• 4). Connect the radiator hose back to the housing assembly. Tighten the hose clamp. Tug the hose to ensure the clamp is tight on the assembly.
  
  
• 5). Fill the radiator with coolant. You may have lost some coolant in the process of removing the thermostat.