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  #1  
Old 01-22-2013, 07:19 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

This is me replacing my thermostat on my 1999 2.5L Ford Ranger.

Precautions: Neither myself of the Ford Ranger Forum are responsible for any damages related to reading and/or attempting this procedure

Tools used:
3/8" ratchet (or 3/8" breaker bar to remove the serp belt)
1/4" ratchet and 8mm socket with 6" extension
10mm end wrench
various pliers & screwdrivers for hose clamps, etc.
towels & scrapers to clean off the parts

Materials:
New Motorcraft Thermostat
New T-stat housing gasket
catch pan for the system's existing coolant
Fresh coolant to top of system after installation

Procedure:

In the pic below is the thermostat housing hiding under the upper radiator hose & the temperature sensor & sender.



I would recommend taking the serpentine belt, the fan/fan clutch assembly, the water pump pulley, and the fan shroud off. It can be done without removing them, but it's so so so much easier to just pull them off. The fan clutch it held onto the water pump pulley by 4 10mm bolts - i used a regular box wrench.



Might as well inspect your water pump while you can see it. I felt how tight the bearing was just for my own piece of mind



You'll have to drain the coolant, else you'll make a big mess. I caught the stream out of the petc0ck & then caught the flow out of the lower radiator hose. kinda did a system flush...
After the coolant is drained, unplug the two sensors on the housing & pull them out of the way. Then you can pull the upper radiator hose off of the top of the housing.





Right there is bolt #1 lol! its a 8mm & It's hard to see but easy to get too, especially after you find it. It's on the lower right of the housing.







And there is where to look for bolt #2 haha! it was too hard to get a pic of it installed, so i showed you where the ratchet needs to be to get to it... 8mm also.



Clean the interface of the block as well as on the housing. Remember to pull of the old gasket & install the new gasket.





The next 2 pictures are of the little test i did...
below on the left is an aftermarket one & to the right is the motorcraft one (brand new).
the gap in the afternarket one is way way too big. caused my sensors to read way too low after the engine was warmed up.
It actually was causing the temp guage to oscillate between normal and cold on the cluster. it was making me crazy lol!




New gasket:



New Thermostat:



ready to install!!!!!












Please please please remember to refill your radiator with clean coolant! and then proceed to burp the system until all the air is out of it.
Check for leaks, blah blah... you might as well do a full system flush while you have it all out IMHO

THANKS FOR VIEWING!


NOTE: I took off my fan shroud permanently because it is tearing up my radiator lol! preparing to replace the radiator soon... don't forget to put it back on too haha!

Last edited by RoberticusMaximus; 01-23-2013 at 11:41 AM.
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  #2  
Old 01-22-2013, 07:55 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

let me know if i forgot something!
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  #3  
Old 04-15-2013, 04:12 PM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

When did you do this? My thermostat I just pulled out had part #YS4E 8575-AB. When I look up the part # on the ford site it is the same as what I pulled out. The thermostat in the picture looks a tad different.

http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...d&model=Ranger

Also I read on another forum that you must twist the thermostat in/out is this true?
http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...ad.php?t=66065
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  #4  
Old 04-15-2013, 06:36 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Offy View Post
When did you do this? My thermostat I just pulled out had part #YS4E 8575-AB. When I look up the part # on the ford site it is the same as what I pulled out. The thermostat in the picture looks a tad different.

http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...d&model=Ranger

Also I read on another forum that you must twist the thermostat in/out is this true?
http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...ad.php?t=66065
hmmm i did this several months ago...
yeah i think you do have to twist the t-stat in now that i think about it... i'll review a little bit & see...

i know there are tiny differences in the 98/99 2.5 & the 00/01 2.5, maybe the t-stat is different as well...
.........
i see the slot that the tabs slide into when inserting the t-stat... i was a bit hasty with the pics cause i was in a hurry, but if it required twisting, then i'm sure i twisted it in. it's hard to miss if you should, cause you'd be able to see the lateral grooves that the tabs seat in...

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  #5  
Old 04-15-2013, 06:45 PM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

I looked for both the 01.5 and the 99 same part # on motorcraft site. maybe they superseded the older t-stat? I have to pull mine back out so I'll confirm the twisting action sometime late this week.
...And take pictures for evidence. I may have overlooked this twisting action on mine because of poor light and low brain activity that day. I just hope if it does have spirals that I did not ruin them when I pried the t-stat out, that is if they exist!
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Last edited by Offy; 04-15-2013 at 06:48 PM.
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  #6  
Old 04-15-2013, 06:46 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

thanks adam! i'm a little to busy to pull it right now, even though i should check the rust accumulation in the radiator lol
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  #7  
Old 04-18-2013, 08:38 AM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

I found in a search browser a site that said that you have to twist the thermostat in/out. Mine is not that way. It looks like the years matter on the housing (motorcraft part# are confusing so they may not). so some may twist, I dk. Also the thermostat had to be pried out because 2 prongs on the motorcraft thermostat to hold in place while reinstalling the thermostat housing, pretty handy actually (aftermarket did not)! I can't post pictures don't know why but if you would like to see them I could email to you (or maybe its just because I'm hungover and can't see it).


http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Ca...=Ranger#Search
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Ca...=Ranger#Search

FYI. The premium aftermarket (stant 45990 I think) weighed half as much and did not slide open smoothly like the motorcraft so the stant in going back as defect and new motorcraft is on order.
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  #8  
Old 04-18-2013, 08:44 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

lol yeah post em up if you can!

----------

and those prongs sound just like mine iirc...
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  #9  
Old 04-18-2013, 09:10 AM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

Quote:
Originally Posted by robertmcclure View Post
lol yeah post em up if you can!

----------

and those prongs sound just like mine iirc...
I can't attach them for some reason it might be because its a discussion or something. I can't message them to you either. If you message me your personal email I'll send them to you so you can post them-up.
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  #10  
Old 04-19-2013, 06:25 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

Thanks adam! i uploaded those to my thermostat album: http://www.fordrangerforum.com/membe...hermostat.html









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  #11  
Old 04-19-2013, 01:14 PM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

Well I picked up motorcraft thermostat at O'Reilys today and I got the same thermostat you got. When you compare it to the original I pulled out, it seems kinda chinsy like the aftermarket one so I'm a little disappointed. I'm going to install it though and see how it works. I'd suggest people buy it directly from ford or somewhere online to get the 1 that seems better quality to me (ys4e-8575-ab or RT1148). But thanks for putting this thread together. It should be able to help out many people.
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  #12  
Old 04-19-2013, 01:56 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

my pleasure! - are you gonna temp test it in some hot water?
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  #13  
Old 04-20-2013, 09:35 AM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

No too lazy and no thermometer. Temp tested in truck and it works.
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  #14  
Old 05-06-2013, 03:30 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

i just found this bad-ass post by someone about 3 years ago lol:

Quote:
Originally Posted by TenSilver View Post
Maybe this will help.
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  #15  
Old 05-06-2013, 07:58 PM
Offy Offy is offline
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Default Re: How To Replace Thermostat 2.5L (1999)

I know its only a 2-way conversation it seems like but the RT-1148 or stamp # ys4e-8575-ab is better. the RT-1140 and stamp # ""-AA does twist in, but hard. and it is easy to twist the tabs after the prongs pass the impressions on the housing. Plus if does not operate as smoothly as the other 1 I speak of. In my view, might as well go aftermarket if you choose to go to the AA/RT-1140 as they seem very similar in quality. Just my point of view. I hope others look highly into all the work you have put into this thread!
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