has anyone changed the thermostat in there 4.0..i keep getting the code that says my coolant temp is to low and i think my thermostat is hung open. i know there is a couple bolts on the plastic housing but was needing a little help

 

its a tight squeeze under there. it is the two bolts but you want to remove the throttle body by taking off the 4 bolts that hold it on. that will give you some more space.

I believe there is an oring in there that you may need to replace as well.

 

Might even be easiest to just unbolt the intake manifold. Either I'm dumb and didn't remove the throttle body or you literally cannot unclip the temp sensors without unbolting the manifold.


fwiw, unbolting the manifold isn't really hard at all. Couple of hoses to remove and like 8 bolts to unscrew and it's off the engine.

 

yeah you cant unclip it at all without removing the manifold

he is talking about the thermostat, which there is room to do without removing the manifold.

 

^^^good to know. I thought the sensors were incorportated into the stat housing and to unclip the sensors, manifold removal. It's been a while since I toyed with it, but I may have been thinking retardedly when frustrated with all my soldering and butchering up two engine/trans harnesses into one during my motor swap. lol.

 

yeah there are 2 water temp sensors one for the PCM and one for the gauge, they are right next to the thermostat.

 

yea i got those out last week and didnt have to remove the intake manifold...the ford tech said it was either the sensors or the thermostat itself so that is all that is left...we will see what happens

 

Yes, make sure you get the correct replacement O ring(I got mine from Ford). Seems there can be more than one. It's not that bad, but its a tight working space. 3 bolts on the therm housing and it comes off. Be careful around the wires that run from the sending units and its pretty easy-no Cave Man Wrenching! Go Easy.

 

Just got done taking apart my front suspension and I toyed with my old motor...

YUP! tight space but it can be done with the manifold on it and the TB removed. What can't be done is upclipping the temp sensor pigtails just behind the stat housing. I thought they were all in the same housing....I was wrong.

 

how many o ring seals are in there? i have the notorious leak from there and figured i would fix that too

 

Just one O ring seal.

 

Did the thermostat work to clear the code? I am getting the same code in my truck. Next question do I need to drain the coolant at all to change the thermostat or should I just be able to clamp the upper radiator hose line?

Thanks

 

When i changed mine i didn't mess with the coolant at all,just took out the screws from the housing and replaced thermostat.I think a little water came out but not too much.

 

Ok thanks Jeremy I started to replace it today, but it started spewing more coolant then I wanted to clean up before class, so I bolted it all back together for now. Did I mention I hate not having my shop to work in! Apartment parking lots suck!