I need to replace my engine thermostat?

If you follow the radiator hose to the engine, you would find the thermostat housing attached to hose. The thermostat is under the housing. Here is a guide to help walk you through the steps with instructions in the diagrams below to show you how on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Check out the diagrams (Below). I have included both 4 and 6 cylinder engines. Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

All I could dig up is the description of how to remove the thermostat housing, which will provide access to the thermostat. Before you take it off, note how it is positioned. Because if you install it backwards, you will still be overheating.

If you disconnected any electrical stuff, battery cables, etc, make sure that they are completely and correctly tightened. It could be that your battery drained, so try jumping it. If that does not do it, then take all of the spark plugs out and try cranking it again. Be careful to note which plug wires go to which cylinders though, otherwise we will have to dig up the firing order and you will have to follow it to get them back in the right cylinders.

If there is a groove in thermostat housing thermostat goes in then gasket if the groove is on engine side thermostat then gasket. See link for generalized version:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

The thermostat is inside the thermostat housing located at the end of the upper radiator hose.
Follow the upper hose; where it hooks up to the engine is your thermostat housing.

Replacement:
-put car on ramps/jack stands
-drain radiator
-disconnect upper hose from thermostat housing
-remove thermostat housing
-remove thermostat
-scrap the old gasket off the engine and the thermostat housing
-put new gasket and thermostat (spring side pointing toward the engine)
-rebolt the thermostat housing
-hook the upper hose back up
-refill your radiator and overflow tank with coolant
-with radiator cap off, turn on car and let it run
-check for leaks
-squeeze upper hose a little bit to get the air out.
-when coolant starts pouring out of the radiator, put cap back on.
-take the car for a short drive, and make sure it doesn't overheat (sometime air gets trapped in the system preventing the thermostat from operating properly).
-turn car off and let it cool down
-while it cools down check for leaks again.
-check coolant level inside radiator (make sure the engine is cool before you remove the radiator cap!) And overflow tank; add coolant if necessary.

I suggest you buy a manual (haynes/chilton); this is a very helpful tool for diy-er, and it's cheap. It will also give you the torque for the thermostat housing.

Hello,

A metal coat hanger with a small magnet Gorilla taped on the end of it.
A telescoping magnet. A piece of twine with a small magnet tied to the end of it.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

Hello again,

I think the coat hanger is going to work the best. Let us know, please.

Thank you,
Alex
2CarPros

THERMOSTAT - WATER, 3.0L
Removal
Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING & BLEEDING - 3.0L & 4.0L.
Remove the upper radiator hose (8260) from the water outlet connection.
Remove the bolts, the water outlet connection and the water thermostat (8575).

CAUTION:Use care when scraping thermostat housing-to-gasket mating surfaces. Gouges in aluminum could form leak paths.

Discard the gasket and clean the sealing surfaces.
Installation
NOTE:Make sure the sealing surfaces are totally free of gasket material.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Start the engine and check for coolant leaks.

THERMOSTAT - WATER, 4.0L
Removal & Installation
Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to the COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING & BLEEDING - 3.0L & 4.0L.
Remove the air cleaner outlet tube.
Remove the generator wiring harness bracket nut and position the wiring harness aside.

Disconnect the upper radiator hose.

Remove the bolts, the water outlet adapter and the thermostat.
Inspect the O-ring seal. Install a new O-ring seal if necessary.
To install, reverse the removal procedure.

THERMOSTAT HOUSING - 2.3L
Removal & Installation
NOTE:The thermostat and thermostat housing are serviced as an assembly.

Drain the cooling system. For additional information, refer to COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING & BLEEDING - 2.3L.
Disconnect the hose and the electrical connector.

Disconnect the radiator lower hose.

Remove the bolts and the thermostat housing.

To install, reverse the removal procedure.

Hello,

The thermostat is located at the engine up of the top radiator hose inside the thermostat housing. Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when doing the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Here are thermostat locations for both the four and six cylinder engines.

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

Chances are a cracked resevoir will not cause the thermostat to go bad.

To test it take it out and drop it in a pan of boiling water or use a heated paint stripper or hair dryer and heat it up. If it opens up its good, if not its bad.