Remove the Old Thermostat

• 1). Open the hood to access the engine compartment. Trace the top radiator hose from the radiator to the engine.
  
  
• 2). Locate the two bolts at the top of the housing to which the hose is clamped. The thermostat is located in the housing.
  
  
• 3). Unbolt the nut with a socket wrench. There will be ground wires sharing the stud. Unscrew the remaining bolt with a socket wrench.
  
  
• 4). Pull the housing cover off with your fingers. This will give you access to the thermostat. Pull the thermostat out with your fingers. Remember the position the thermostat was sitting in the housing so you put the new thermostat in correctly. Notice whether the spring was facing the housing cover or the engine.
  
  
• 5). Clean the housing surface with a putty knife or a razor blade. Scrape all the remaining gasket material off both the cover and the housing.
  
  

Install the New Thermostat

• 1). Place the new thermostat in the housing. Ensure it goes in the same way the old thermostat was positioned before removal.
  
  
• 2). Place the new gasket around the surface of the thermostat housing. Ensure the gasket lines up to the stud and the bolt hole on the housing.
  
  
• 3). Place the cover onto the housing. Tighten the bolt with a socket wrench. Place the ground wires onto the stud and tighten the nut with a socket wrench.
  
  
• 4). Open the radiator cap to access the coolant level. Check to ensure the coolant is full. The coolant should be visible at the neck of the radiator.