So Fix it

Drain the radiator fluid into a three-gallon container. The radiator drain is located on the lower left of the radiator. To remove the drain, insert a -drive ratchet into the plug and turn it counter clockwise. Close the drain once all of the fluid drains into the pan.

Trace the lower radiator hose to the engine. The hose mounts to the T-Stat intake tube. The thermostat rests inside that tube.

Remove the radiator hose from the T-Stat intake tube with a pair of pliers and then pull the hose off the intake tube.

Remove the two 7/16 nuts that secure the intake tube onto the engine. Be caul, when you remove the intake tube, the thermostat comes out with it.

Pull the old 0-ring out of the bottom of the T-Stat intake tube and place a new one into the groove vacated by the old one.

Discard the thermostat and place the new one into the intake tube. The end of the thermostat with the jiggle vale (long skinny pin) sticks into the T-Stat intake tube.

Place the intake tube against the engine and thread the nuts back onto the studs with your fingers. Tighten the nuts into place with the 7/16 socket.

Slide the hose onto the T-Stat intake tube and secure it with the radiator hose band clamp.

Remove the radiator cap from the top of the radiator and drain the fluid back into the radiator. Close the cap once finished.

Remove the radiator cap from the radiator. The cap is on the left side, on the top of the radiator. This releases pressure in the coolant system. Do not remove the cap while the engine is hot.

Remove the band clamp that secures the lower radiator hose to the radiator outlet. Use a screwdriver to remove the clamp. Pull the hose off the radiator and drain the fluid into a drainage pan. Slide the hose back onto the radiator outlet and secure it in place with the band clamp.

Follow the upper radiator hose to the point where the hose connects to the top of the engine. Remove the band clamp from the hose with the screwdriver and pull the hose off the thermostat housing. Push the hose off to the side to gain access to the housing.

Remove the two bolts that secure the thermostat housing to the manifold of the Dodge Caravan with a 9/16-inch socket and ratchet. Lift the housing off the Caravan to expose the thermostat.

Pull the old thermostat out of the intake and discard it.

Shove a rag into the hole the thermostat sat in to prevent old gasket material from falling into the cooling system.

Scrape the old thermostat gasket off the intake manifold and the bottom of the thermostat housing and wipe everything down with a rag.

Remove the rag and place the new thermostat into the Caravans intake. The end with the spring on it sits inside of the intake.

Place a bead of RTV silicone around the base of the thermostat housing and place the housing back onto the intake. Secure it with the bolts.

Reconnect the upper radiator hose and secure it with the band clamp.

Drain the radiator fluid back into the radiator, using the filler cap. Replace the radiator cap once finished.

Follow the top radiator hose from the F105s radiator to where the hose connects to the thermostat housing on the engine. Remove the hose from the housing by loosening the radiator hose clamp with a pair of pliers and pulling the hose off the housing.

Remove the two bolts that secure the housing to the Fords engine. Lift up on the housing.

Pull the thermostat out of the intake manifold. Place a rag in the hole to prevent debris from getting into the hole while you clean the surface.

Scrape the old gasket material off the intake manifold and off the bottom of the thermostat housing with a metal scraper or wire brush.

Pull the rag out of the hole and replace it with the new thermostat. The end with the spring goes into the intake manifold.

Place a bead of RTV gasket sealer around the mating surface of the thermostat housing.

Place the housing on the intake manifold and bolt it into place.

Slide the radiator hose onto the thermostat housing and secure it with the hose clamp.

Drain approximately 2 gallons of coolant into a clean drainage pan from the petcock located on the bottom of the radiator. You will reuse the coolant.

Follow the upper radiator hose from the radiator on the Grand Prix to the intake manifold, where the hose connects to the water outlet housing. The thermostat rests inside the water outlet housing.

Clean any debris away from the outlet housing with a towel or compressed air. It is common for leaves and other road dirt to build up around this area. A clean surface prevents any contaminants from getting into the cooling system.

Remove the two bolts that secure the water outlet housing to the intake manifold on the Grand Prix with a socket and ratchet. Lift the housing off the intake manifold to expose the thermostat.

Lift the old thermostat out of the intake manifold and shove a shop towel into the newly exposed hole.

Scrape the old gasket off the surface of the intake manifold with a metal scraper or small wire brush. Do the same with the bottom of the water outlet housing.

Remove the shop towel from the hole in the intake manifold and place the new thermostat into the hole. The end with the spring goes into the hole while the end with the pin sticks out.

Place a new gasket over the thermostat and place the water outlet housing on top of the gasket. Secure everything with the two bolts.

Open the lid on the radiator expansion tank and drain the 2 gallons of fluid back into the radiator.