2006-09 Ford Fusion 2.3L thermostat replacement STEP-BY-STEP

[@workingschmopa1703]

So i just did this today. Here's the REAL, TOTAL scoop. #1 - as you pull the belt off the p/s pulley, secure just that loop somewhere with a bungee cord. This will prevent you from having to reroute the hose over all the pulleys. #2- its virtually impossible to get the lower power steering bolt out. So I found no use in removing the overflow tank or a/c lines. So I put that time into disassembling the power steering pump from the reservoir on the car. Removing the power steering reservoir makes access to that bolt a snap. Reassembled it off the car (cannot be done on the car since the upper clip that holds the reservoir on cannot be replaced on the car due to zero clearance and the general uncooperation of the pump in its installed position) and simply finger tightened the lower bolt since I could not get any tools to tighten it to spec in that space. Plus 2 upper bolts secure the unit fine. #3 - given the mileage when these fail (mine had 170K) , I would simply cut the hoses off the thermostat and replace the hoses. Those clamps are a nightmare and the lips on the thermostat housing make removal tough. I didn't do this however as I wasn't prepared with those parts. Spray lots of lube on the outside of those clamps and inside the hose as you're prying it off. This was tedious and can simply save time by cutting the hose flush with the housing and replacing. #4 - don't reuse the old clamps. Makes it much easier just to replace it with screw type clamps. #5 - You will likely need 2 gallons of antifreeze so that you don't get cut short while you're bleeding. #6 - Bleeding will take time. Don't get impatient or get scared that it's not blowing heat right away. Before starting the car, open the bleeder and then pour the coolant in. Once you see it purge some air, refill the reservoir, close bleeder, reinstall tank cap and start the car. Turn on heat to max. Rev it to 2K RPMs. Never let the temp gauge go past the middle mark. No need to overheat the thing. Once gauge reaches middle , turn it off regardless of if you have heat. Let the car sit for a minute. Crack open bleeder and purge air. Refill Coolant and start process again until you get heat and temp gauge remains no higher than middle (actual coolant temp should not exceed 227 degrees if you have a scan tool.). Road test the car and repeat if necessary. Plan on 3-4 hours. Mine tool 6 cos I got jammed up a couple of times.

[@chrisalamp]

Thanks a million. I just tried winging the thermostat replacement and couldn't figure out why we weren't getting heat and then the car would start to misfire. Turns out we had to crack the bleeder and let the air out. It's running like new now. Thanks!

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Glad it helped

[@floyjoy]

Thanks for the tip to bleed the coolant system while the engine is being refilled with antifreeze.

[@grantw.whitwam9948]

Glad you showed all this, I never would have known what that bleeder valve was. I don't have this stuff on my older cars.

[@brainlapses]

thank you man you were a HUGE help for me & my father... I appreciate u!

[@easternbushman]

Thanks for great vid. Bulletproof cars. Wifes has 240 k miles. Daughters 330 k. Trouble free till now.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Glad to help.

[@DeepSouthernTX]

After such jobs besides the bleeder valve it's interesting to put the heater to max and rev the engine to 3k rpm and hold it for 30 seconds and then let idle for 30 seconds, turn off car and repeat this process a few times to get most air out, opening the cap occasionally ao that air escapes

[@alianbaba9330]

Thank you sir. You just helped me to replace my thermostat successfully.

[@Philbytronic]

I like that you cleaned up that engine, and the engine bay!

[@grantw.whitwam9948]

Yeah, it sure looks better doesn't it.

[@steve20118]

Love your videos on the Fusion! So helpful! Thanks!

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

I appreciate it.

[@SolarDrew]

Excellent information! You said turn the tensioner counterclockwise but I think you meant clockwise.

[@John_Ridley]

Just replaced mine, temp now running 210 instead of 170. Thanks!

[@ubatch]

Your video was a great deal of help. THANK YOU!

[@GregSchorey]

Can't seem to get that clamp over that power steering reservoir though...Any comments/suggestions on how to get this clamp over it???

[@she_be]

Thank you for being so thorough!!!!!

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Any time!

[@jms4406]

I replaced it and got the air all out of the system. Light is still on does it take awhile to turn off?

[@joncampbell1198]

Getting those hoses off had him so angry he bust out into a story 😂 i feel this as im at the same point

[@RaShaud]

Thank you for being so informative man really👍

[@GhettoWagon]

Nahh there is not even tool marks on the bolts. Yea flushing coolant sucks. I was always concerned with what to do with the old stuff, if you have a sewer system alot of places just say "flush it down the toilet"

[@douglas2583]

The bolt head snapped off on me as I was installing the thermostat, I tightened 2 bolts and the third one snapped, this job was a nightmare on space to work in

[@notsofast5495]

does this engine have an external or internal water pump?

[@mariekloss972]

My Ford has this very issue and also it keeps on jerking whenever I'm slowing down or on a red light.. it doesn't excel good anymore either. To get from 0 to say 35 takes way longer now with this issue than before and Idk what to do.

[@andrewmantle6359]

Will this cause the check engine light to come on

[@kennethsunderland6676]

Most cars nowadays you have to replace the housing and all. I have even seen it now on big diesel trucks. I guess it is easier in production like how they do wheel hub assemblies. My 99 Silverado 5.3 you could buy the thermostat seperate but for a couple dollars more you could buy the housing and all. Most of them are made of cheap pop metal anyway. By the way that Fusion is fun to change headlight bulbs. You have to drop the bumper to do it. I didn't know if you have looked at that yet.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

This one has doors made into the inner fenders labeled "bulb access".

[@kennethsunderland6676]

WhoSaidTyler oh well that is a good thing. I had heard you had to pull the bumper off like on my Malibu I had which is the dumbest design ever! I am glad those are easy to do.

[@LethargicSquirrel]

You have to pull the bumper off to replace the fog lights on these. Otherwise both wheel wells have a 'BULB ACCESS' cover with a single screw each. Still takes very small, very skilled hands to change the passenger headlight. The driver one you can come at from the top if you move the air intake/air filter cap out of the way. I've had my Fusion for 8 years now, and still haven't needed to replace anything but the low beams and the side markers, thankfully!

[@DeepSouthernTX]

Does the zerex g05 turn more reddish after a couple of years?

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

I don't know, i didn't keep it that long. What was in it wasn't reddish.

[@blacktempo77]

Very helpful Thank You!

[@alansmith5255]

Thanks for the video, very helpful.

[@RiggyRonnie]

I gave that exact same car. Gray and 2.3l same year too.

[@leewestep92]

Thanks for the video. Great help

[@gbowne1]

I think the CV joint boot is Motorcraft TS-213 through TS-217.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Thanks but those kits are over $200.

[@frank-bmtz]

How much coolant does the 2.3l take to replenish?

[@TheHowToCorrectly]

Did your car use to squeak when first started up but stopped once it gotten warm? My fusion is doing that and wonder which pulley that is cause it

[@SolarDrew]

Did you fix it?

[@kitajackson8688]

How do I get to the bottom bolt without removing the pulley? Seems impossible.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

You have to remove the power steering pump. Just let it hang by the hoses.

[@garymartin8619]

Thanks for the input good video

[@Fireship1]

That car is looking good. Trans repair still holding up?

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Thanks. So far.

[@leewestep92]

Hey buddy what's a fair price to instal a new thermostat and housing assembly on a ford fusion 09?. Labor ? Parts ?

[@jmm03e]

Thermostat for this model can be 20 to 50 dollars. My local shop charges 1.5 hrs at 65/hr, so 97.50 labor. I'm in a low cost of living area. Best of luck.

[@jaida216]

Love ur video

[@iaagg]

Could it be that there was no coolant in that Probe and you were lucky to get the water out before a big freeze?

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

It actually had coolant.

[@iaagg]

I said coolant but actually meant anti-freeze it looked just like water.

[@jamerdoo]

Do I have to do all That you are doing with the belt or can I just change the housing?

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

You have to get the power steering out of the way to get to the thermostat housing bolts.

[@ridingwiththereids]

According to AllData, if you use 1/4 drive tools, it call be done without removing all of that stuff.

[@markhardwick1198]

I've never known a dog with ongoing psychological problems.

[@vanesrobertson4692]

bleeding the coolant system is a pain in the ass.

[@hawks4evaa]

Engineering 101, put common part failures underneath everything

[@joncampbell1198]

I've been cursing the designer of this motor four days now because of that very thing

[@danielringhiser2924]

It's so much easier if you remove the headlight

[@PapiDoesIt]

The belt tensioners on these SUCK! Mine was replaced under warranty at 30K miles. They should not fail so soon. Bad design.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

I'm still having problems with this one.

[@repairdrive]

Mine failed at 130k miles 😫

[@GrimYak]

@@repairdrive they all ultimately fail, you should have changed them at 100k anyway.

[@fallonwatts7228]

Need help

[@Brandon-xe1yt]

its amazing how bad every car video is on youtube.....

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

What's more amazing are the "people" that never made a f****ng video, yet criticize other people. You don't count. Take a hike.

[@fujitsubo3323]

a muuuuuzda!! engine. fucking mazda not muzda! god damn it.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Good GRIEF...with that kind of anger issue you don't need to be near a gun, a car or a screaming child anytime soon.

[@fujitsubo3323]

chill out joe dirt. its just a joke, i'm making fun of how you Americans say Mazda.

[@TylersNeighborhoodGarage]

Everyone in this country(and out) say things differently. It's a fact of life. I take it fujisubo is Asian...he might attest to how difficult it is to understand American English phrasing and modifiers.

[@fujitsubo3323]

Tyler's Neighborhood Garage also if I was Asian I'm pretty sure I would know how to say an Asian Brand name in its correct way.

[@cronquist09]

Sheesh, you have issues man. At least Tyler is making helpful videos. How he pronounces Mazda is inconsequential next to what he's showing us how to do.

[@Mail4dalej]

Next time you're at Harbor Freight pick up the foam pad set to lay on. Your body will thank you.