Ford Ranger And Explorer 4.0l Engine: How To Replace The Thermostat Housing

Brian Eslick from How to Automotive www.howtoautomo... takes you step-by-step through the process of replacing the thermostat housing on a Ford Ranger or Ford Explorer with 4.0L engine.
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Owing to factors beyond the control of How to Automotive/Brian Eslick, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modification of this information, or improper use of this information. How to Automotive/Brian Eslick assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any information contained in this video. How to Automotive/Brian Eslick recommends safe practice when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jacks and jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemical lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Because of factors beyond the control of How to Automotive/Brian Eslick, no information contained in this video shall express or imply warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How to Automotive/Brain Eslick. #HowtoAutomotive #FordRanger

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Be sure to check out the How to Automotive Tool Store www.amazon.com/shop/howtoautomotive

[@leonpeterson7464]

Nice job you showed the whole process. Thank you, others cut out the hard parts. They make it look easier than it is. You rock

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Leon Peterson Glad you like the video. Thank you for watching!

[@rnedlo9909]

Just got done with my 2004 Ranger. Two things different on mine: There were two sensors, FYI, the right side sensor you have to connect the wire BEFORE you slid the unit all the way under the air intake. Once in, to the point of putting the bolts on, the connecter will not fit under the air intake to snap it in. Two; there was another pipe running between the block and the unit, which makes it much tighter to get to the back bolt. Put the back bolt in before the others and tip it forward to slide the back bolt in and then let it back down and tighten.

[@scotthendricks79]

Sounds like my ranger I'm currently battling, I couldn't get either plug off they both hit the intake

[@rnedlo9909]

@@scotthendricks79 There is a rumor an engineer's wife ran away with a mechanic, to get revenge the engineer designed the 4.0.

[@Karlbrandt0145]

Awesome video, short,sweet and to the point!! Thanks to Ford,this job looks like a major pain in the balls!!!

[@icemonk12]

Great video👍🔧 for that 90° hose i usually go to autoparts store & just match the bend with random hose they have in stock & cut the piece i need.

[@fincity1964]

Good video, very helpful. I am installing an upgraded aluminum housing this weekend on a 2004 FX4 ranger with 190k.

[@joemartinez6182]

very well explained, you went a bit on the fast side showing the parts and explaining, but it was a good video thank you.

[@EdwardPoolService]

Thank you for this super clear and deep video! I try to replace my thermostat housing but for my surprise one bolt are freeze and I scary broke and I decide install all old parts and find a technical 😔😭😭😭

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Hopefully it doesn’t break. And go smoothly for the technician. Thank you for watching!

[@pilgrimhere652]

I just changed the thermostat in my 1993 Mazda pickup, and there were not many obstacles to reach the thermostat , I was a little confused ,but after watching your video ,now I'm sure I did it right Thank you. 👍🛻

[@cooksautoworld]

Spot on my friend. Very nice.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you!

[@AmaRajiMahaMarai]

Thank You for putting this video together, very helpful!

[@scotthendricks79]

Thank you so much! I rounded the front bolt, cold chiseled the housing off. Heat and pb blast, she came right out. I couldn't unplug the sensors well it was in place though? Thanks so much

[@kingfish5885]

Well done. Clear and concise. Very informative and straightforward continuous, uninterrupted process. I’m subscribed…

[@DonKreuter]

Brian, Thank You for the excellent video on how to replace my 2006 Ford Ranger 6 cylinder 4.0 Liter Engine FX4 Thermostat Housing and Thermostat. Now I have the confidence to to replace it myself. You are awesome! I subscribed to your KZbin Channel. Don Kreuter

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Don I’m glad you like the video and it was helpful. Thank you for the sub and for watching!

[@sgtish]

This is probably the closest I've seen to my 4.0 V6 SOHC 2019 Ranger so far. In fact; the same looking on video. Would you recommend replacing the lower housing as well since you are in there? I have a 2009 FX4 with nearly all FoMoCo parts and would not like to get in there again for a while if I did not have to. I am too lazy hahahaha.

[@lanzoforever498]

What is the name of the two hoses you suggest we change?

[@jasonhart395]

Very helpful.Thank you!

[@ronaldslater7755]

My 1998 Explorer with the 4.0 SOHC engine was a lot tougher to do than the Explorer in this video. I needed to remove the alternator, tensioner and belt, and the bracket that held the alternator and tensioner and the idler pulley. I had to break the upper thermostat housing off of the lower housing because the rear bolt would spin, but not unscrew (the pressed-in nut broke free and was spinning in the lower housing). It took me only three hours to do, plus another (almost) hour to refill the cooling system and bleed the air out of the system. Ford definitely did not design this to be replaced by the average owner. The housing assembly should have been made out of aluminum. Ford charged me $421 for a replacement plastic housing assembly. Ridiculous!

[@scottleininger2404]

Great info.

[@jameshuett2559]

Great video. My son's 2008 just sprang a leak here.

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad you like the video and To help you and your son out thank you for watching!

[@jarez3781]

Good video but one thing I had to buy the housing as a complete unit and had to remove the water neck to install it and install the water neck after.

[@bdelgado103]

Great walk through! 😊

[@eragon2262]

What can you do if the top part of the housing won't come apart? The back bolt is spinning in its socket but not loose enough to come out and not coming out of the metal backer for it in the bottom half of the housing I think that came loose and is just spinning in place. Can you get it out without taking the top of the housing off?

[@chloesalpa1818]

Best video for this job so far.

[@bradrutherford8526]

How do I know if I need to swap the whole thing or just the top portion with the three bolts? Fill with water and see where it's leaking from?

[@irshadashraf7945]

Your work of method so nice

[@coreysuttles1362]

Great video very helpful my friend!!!! Thank you for these!!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@raybin6873]

Would've been nice to have seen the defective part showing where it was leaking from.

[@360fanboy360]

when i do this job i alway hope its the other manifold on the later model 4.0 SOHC

[@texascrossbowdude636]

Doesnt it need a gasket between the manifold and the housing?

[@wondermonkey74]

Excellent video!!! Thank you:)

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@avery214j]

Great video, do folks need to drain the coolant fluid first??

[@x7slim8x]

Replacing mine with the aluminum housing in my 2003 Ranger 4.0 right now..... Hit that God-damned little elbow hose and had to jump on KZbin to figure it out quickly. Thanks for the trick of removing that valve! Ok back to it!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Glad to help. Thank you for watching!

[@x7slim8x]

All went well, though what a ridiculous location for that housing..... another case of engineers screwing over mechanics, shade tree or professional. 😉

[@wakaphwap]

excellent video! thank you for sharing your process

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@sgtish]

I believe that depending on how deep you have to get into the engine then it might be a good idea to fix or renew/repair what you see on the way in/out. Budget and time are the only constraints as far as I'm concerned. Your thoughts?

[@scottleininger2404]

Do you have the torque specs on the bolts?

[@irshadashraf7945]

Good job

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Irshad Ashraf thank you!

[@irshadashraf7945]

Sir can i ask your name ?

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Brian

[@AlaskanMonroe]

This looks to be just what I need. I've a 96 4.0 4x4 XLT that just recently overheated, and it is leaking exactly where all these components are. Are all the hoses listed,... even the 2 that you didn't change out? I'm in King Salmon, Alaska, and need to order all these parts in. I'll need that small torque wrench, too... hopefully it's not expensive! Lol. Would RockAuto be a good online source?

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Yes Rock Auto should have everything you need. Good luck with the repair.

[@OO-xc7zg]

Thanks! 👍👍

[@davewolfe5169]

Thank you sir

[@pdufusc]

great vid!

[@justanamerican9024]

Thank you!

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Thank you for watching!

[@griffin5226]

what is tube to the right of where you are working that has that thick, woven insulation on it?

[@HowtoAutomotive]

That is the radiator hose

[@Usmanthemecano]

I just did a similar job: thermostat+ water pump on 2003 Ford explorer sport Trac lol I didn't have to remove the throttle body though. Would've probably made it easier

[@mickeymarrufo5848]

Did it turn on when it was messed up and did it turn back on when changed?

[@laery5302]

Why does nobody show how to do this on a earlier ranger like 93 😭 I’ve been struggling for days

[@billr2584]

I followed your guidelines, and super helpful by the way. I appreciate it. I have all the bolts out except one is seized up. Any advice how to get that out?

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Soak it in penetrating oil and try to work the bolt back-and-forth hopefully it’ll loosen up. If that doesn’t work if you can apply heat to it.

[@super8tovideo]

Your amazon link no longer works says sorry we couldn't find that page.

[@Paperhatchett]

Mine didn’t come with new o rings for the sensors, should I go buy some new ones or can I reuse the old ones? They still solid and round but kinda loose on the sensor… I don’t wanna put it back together just for it to leak again from there

[@chrish4723]

weird, just replace the thermostat only with Murray 3649, however did not come with a gasket. reused the gasket that was in place and don't think it is thick enough since now there is a slight leak from the seam between the top and bottom of the housing. went to oreily's website and confirmed it doesn't come with a gasket, buy you have same exact part with a thick gasket. weird

[@jorarr5174]

I replace the thermostat and it is overheating any suggestions

[@mcdatacomm155]

So why not show putting the gasket on? Did the gasket need to be glued?

[@A19csd]

My sensors are super loose in the new thermostat housing. Should I just go get bigger O rings?

[@jorarr5174]

They have two types clips or screw on sensor

[@jonathanmcclure8346]

The bolts on the upper thermostat housing are spinning and not coming out. Do you have a solution for this ?

[@ImStep-by-Step]

Did you ever find a solution two of my top bolts are broken off

[@franciscoz6010]

Where the elbow hose conects? Disculpe mi ingles😅

[@jorarr5174]

I replace this and still overheats any suggestions

[@SteamDriver1947]

Be nice to put year of vehicle in description first to save viewer's time yours just says, on a 4.0, well mine is a 4.0 but a 94 totally different animal and a very difficult job to do just to change out a thermostat, that's why you don't see any video's here for thermostat removal on a 94 or 95 explorer!!

[@victornaja7927]

How much is this job.??

[@lauriealexander69]

Can I change just the thermostat?

[@HowtoAutomotive]

Yes if that’s all you need.

[@rays.2480]

That Positive battery post needs some serious attention...lol So much corrosion...

[@rdubbs1983]

Metal ones are no available. Don’t replace with plastic. I’ve been through this a few times.

[@rdubbs1983]

Now*

[@JohnstonPettigrew]

@@rdubbs1983 metal ones are available.....look on Amazon....or check relevant forums .....everyone is using the metal ones

[@tylercox8227]

That was a 10 mm not 8

[@irshadashraf7945]

I salout you

[@foodskewed9197]

Step 1. Drain fuel tank Step 2. Burn vehicle Step 3. Purchase new vehicle Step 4. Fill fuel tank I hate those engines!!

[@franciscoz6010]

Why?

[@stevejones3309]

Excellent suggestion!