I"m in the process of changing out all of my cooling components and I seem to be stuck on the thermostat. The right bolt is easy to get out but the left bolt is behind a pulley. Is there a trick to getting this bolt out? Or do I have to take off the pulley.

If I have to take off the pulley what tools do I need to do it. It looks like it take a 3/4" attachment.

 

From what I remember, you HAVE to remove the idler pulley.

 

After doing some reading I decided not to put it on...worse case scenario I drain the coolant again. I wanted to get it back together since it's my DD

 

I have done it many many times, anyway you drain out some of the coolant, loosen the four screws / bolts on the water pump pulley and then remove the Belt. I have found that it is easiest to loosen it and slip the pulley off the water pump, lowering the belt to the lower edge of the pulley.

Remove the bolts, Pulley and then use the 10 MM socket to loosen the left bolt. It may be useful to twist or rotate the housing a bit before pulling it forward.

After the tstat is replaced, look to see that the rubber gasket is not visible, rebolt the stat and add the hose. I like to rub a bit of silicone grease on the inner surface of the hose to glide it on and off later.

Rebolt the pump pulley and then loosen the belt, slipping the pulley back on. Add coolant, run the motor and check the water level. TaaDa

Woody, Enjoy

 

Woody, you had me scratching my head there for a minute with the picutre. What the hell is that connector doing there and WHY does it have bare solder joints. Then I saw the clipped off end of one of the wires and realized it was one of your little 'extras'. You should have cropped that clipped wire end out of the pic!

MikeR