Friday, February 7, 2014
How to Replace the Thermostat on a 1993 Thunderbird
The thermostat in your 1993 Thunderbird is the part of the cooling system that regulates internal engine temperatures by regulating the flow of coolant between the engine and the radiator. When you first start the engine, the thermostat is closed, keeping the coolant in the engine and circulating it between the radiator and the heater core. Once normal operating temperature is reached, the thermostat opens and the coolant begins flowing throughout the whole system. Replacing the thermostat is a job you can perform with minimal tools or experience in about an hour.
Instructions
- 1
Locate the drain valve, also known as a petcock valve, in the lower radiator tank. Place the drain pan under the petcock valve and open the valve, allowing the fluid to drain into the pan. Remove the radiator cap.
2Locate the thermostat housing by following the upper radiator hose from the radiator to the engine. The thermostat housing is at the end of the upper radiator hose.
3Remove the two or three bolts that secure the thermostat housing to the engine by turning them counterclockwise with the socket and ratchet. You may need the universal swivel to access these bolts.
4Grasp the thermostat housing where it connects to the upper radiator hose and pull sharply up at an angle to remove the housing. Make note of the orientation of the thermostat.
5Remove the old thermostat. Use the gasket scraper to thoroughly clean off remains of the old gasket from both mating surfaces.
6Install the new thermostat with the same orientation as the one you just removed.
7Apply a thin coating of the RTV silicone to both housing mating surfaces and place the gasket against the housing.
8Line up the bolt holes in the housing with those in the engine and replace the thermostat housing.
9Install the retaining bolts by inserting them into the bolt holes and turning them clockwise until finger tight.
10Torque the bolts to between 30 and 40 foot-pounds.
11Close the petcock valve and pull the drain pan out.
12Refill the radiator with the new coolant. Start the engine and allow it to reach normal operating temperature. Top off the coolant level as needed. Replace the radiator cap. Top off the overflow bottle as needed.
13Pour the used coolant into a suitable container and take it to a local repair shop or parts store for recycling or proper disposal.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
How to Replace a 2000 Ford Focus Thermostat
The thermostat in the 2000 Ford Focus works by opening a jiggle valve as the temperature of the radiator fluid rises. As the valve opens, the thermostat allows more fluid to flow through the radiator, thus cooling the fluid and the engine temperature down. Over time, engine buildup in the coolant system causes the thermostat to corrode. This corrosion causes the thermostat to fail. When this happens, the valve stays in the open position and reduces the engine temperature, thus reducing the amount of heat the Focus produces inside of the car. This means you must replace the thermostat in your 2000 Ford Focus.
Instructions
- 1
Open the radiator drain plug by inserting a -inch ratchet drive into the drain plug, then drain 2 gallons of radiator fluid into a drain pan. The plug loosens by turning the ratchet counterclockwise. Close the drain plug once you drain the fluid. This drops the fluid in the radiator below the height of the thermostat. This prevents fluid from draining from the radiator hose as you replace the fluid.
2Locate the area on the top of the engine where the upper radiator hose connects. The hose connects to the thermostat housing. Remove the hose by loosening the band clamp with a screwdriver, then pull the hose off the thermostat cover.
3Remove the two bolts that secure the thermostat housing to the Ford Focus with a 9/16-inch socket. Lift up on the housing to remove it from the engine.
4Pull the old thermostat out of the intake manifold and then place the new one into the intake. The design of the thermostat allows it to fit into the intake in one manner.
5Lift the old gasket off of the intake manifold and wipe the surface clean with a shop towel. Place the new thermostat gasket onto the intake.
6Wipe the bottom of the thermostat housing clean with a shop towel and place it on top of the gasket. Tighten the thermostat housing in place with the old bolts.
7Slide the hose onto the thermostat housing and secure it by tightening the band clamp with a screwdriver.
8Open the radiator cap on the top of the radiator and drain the 2 gallons of fluid back into the Focus. Close the cap once you are finished.