2007 ford mustang v6 thermostat housing replacement cost

Ms. Millar has had many books published online and in print. She learned how to bind her own books to save money on publishing costs.

Thermostat housing/inlet housing

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Simple Repair for Your Radiator Leaking

Friday night is fast approaching, but your sweet Mustang is out there leaking radiator fluid everywhere!

Your night out is not necessarily doomed; Ford Mustangs are notorious for their thermostat housings leaking. This would be the first place I would recommend you check if you are seeing radiator fluid leaking from your engine. It's a fairly simple fix for anyone with a 5/16 socket wrench (or 8mm), and the know-how I'm going to provide for you in the following paragraphs! So, let's get to it!

Cracks in the thermostat housing

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The Housing Is Made of Plastic and Prone to Breakage

Check this out: When you're going to cook something that requires boiling water, do you use a metal pot, or do you grab a pot made of plastic to boil the water in? You choose a metal pot to boil the water in, right! Well, the Ford designers decided to choose a plastic pot to contain water that reaches boiling temperatures in their engines.

The thermostat housing, AKA: inlet housing, located at the top front of the engine is made of plastic. As you can imagine, this plastic housing is notorious for developing cracks and leaks which allow coolant to escape the system. If your engine is leaking coolant this would be the very first thing I would recommend you check.

Check the Thermostat Housing

You are going to want to check the thermostat housing to make sure it is the culprit of the leak before you go down and purchase a new one.

Have a flashlight handy when you go to check the thermostat housing. It can be dark under the air intake and a flashlight will help illuminate the area. Leave the engine OFF and the key OUT of the ignition so there is no accidental start.

Refer to the photo for the location of the thermostat housing. Guide your flashlight beam around the top of the housing and below the housing. You're looking for fluid pooled on top of it or below it. You may even see drips off of it on the underside. If you see any of these telltale signs, then it is time to replace the thermostat housing.

Thermostat housing location

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Here it is!

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Replace the Thermostat Housing

Replacing the thermostat housing is one of the easy repairs a home mechanic to do.

First, you're going to want to head over to your local auto parts store. Have the make, model and year of your Mustang with you, and the engine size IE: V6, Shelby, etc. available so the counter person can get you the correct replacement housing.

The replacement thermostat housing is going to be, again, plastic. That is the standard replacement, but you can find an aluminum replacement if you so choose. If you are interested in the aluminum replacement, a simple search online will provide you with several retailers. An aluminum housing will set you back about $60 whereas the plastic housing runs about $30. You are looking at paying twice as much for the aluminum, but it will far outlive the plastic replacement. It's up to you. The plastic will suffice as it has already.

The tools you'll need for the replacement are:

• A 8mm, or 5/16" (8mm = 5/16"), socket wrench with an extension.
• The new thermostat housing.
• A dab of Vaseline, or some spit for the "O" rings.
• Pliers for the hose clamps.
• A little bit of patience for your own peace of mind.

Remove the old thermostat housing:

1. Remove the negative battery clamp from the battery post to avoid any accidental shocks.
2. Place a catch basin under the radiator and open the petcock to drain the radiator fluid (remember to keep this fluid away from your pets!). If your radiator is leaking, you may be able to skip this step due to the fluid already leaking out!
3. Using your 5/16" or 8mm socket, loosen the hose clamp on the air intake and pull the hose off. Bend it back and out of the way, or remove the air filter lid (to which this hose is connected) (un-clip wire connector) and remove it out of the way.

Disconnect Wires and Move or Remove Air Inlet

Air inlet to move, or remove.

Remove the Old One

Now you have the metal piece the air hose was connected to. The thermostat housing is right underneath it. Using your 5/16", or 8mm, unscrew the four bolts holding the metal intake on. Set the metal piece up to the side without disconnecting it.

Now you have full access to the thermostat housing.

1. Unscrew the three bolts holding the thermostat retainer on. Move this piece out of the way by tucking it behind something. Remove the thermostat and put it somewhere safe for re-installation. This might be a good time to test the thermostat.
2. Use your pliers to squeeze the hose clamp, of the smaller hose, on top of the thermostat housing and pull the hose off.
3. Disconnect the wire connection attached to the temperature probe installed on top of the thermostat housing.
4. Take your 5/16", 8mm, and remove the screws on top of the thermostat housing. Set them somewhere safe so you won't lose them.
5. Squeeze the hose clamp on the large hose located at the front of the housing, then grab the housing and maneuver it up and out.

Thermostat Housing 2007 Mustang

Pull the Thermostat Housing Out

Remove bolts from thermostat retainer.

Install the New Housing

1. Remove the temperature sensor from the old housing (the one you just took off the engine) and put it into the new housing.
2. There should be three new o rings in the box. The small o ring goes on the temperature sensor with a bit of Vaseline, or spit. The second, larger, flat, o ring goes underneath the housing. There is a machine groove it sets into. Again, use a bit of Vaseline, or spit, to ensure they seat properly. The third goes on top of the thermostat itself.
3. Put the screws back into the top of the thermostat housing and torque to specification.
4. Attach the temperature probe wire connection.
5. Re-connect the water hoses and line up the hose clamps in their previous position.
6. Place the thermostat into the new thermostat housing. Place the new large o ring on top of it, then secure the top with the screws. Torque to specification.
7. Re-attach wire connections, air inlet with four screws and torque.
8. Push air hose back on and tighten hose clamp. Re-attach lid of air filter if necessary.
9. Check radiator petcock, is it closed snug?
10. Fill system with coolant. Watch for leaking where you just installed the thermostat housing.
11. Reconnect negative battery cable.

Start the car, watching for leaks. Check the radiator fluid level to make sure it's filled to the minimum line.

YOU'RE DONE! Wasn't that a piece of cake?! Good job! Now go enjoy your weekend!

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2018 Joanna