If you have a coolant gauge that's drifting or staying on the cool side, or, you get a P0128 OBD-II code , the thermostat has likely failed. Here's how to replace it.
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!
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.
Wow, memories! Don’t forget the valve cover gasket. They always leak around the coil packs often flooding the spark plug holes. Those tensioners are crap and I’ve done mine 3 times.
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
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.
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.
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!
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"
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
ALIEN CONNECTION Yep, it is. Bought my mother a 2012 Fusion, the intake is plastic, valve cover, and it just makes for more to break in the long run. I'll keep my bulletproof Grand Marquis.
One Retro Guy You are correct. The older cars were better built with quality materials. Even Honda and Toyota quality isn't as good as it used to be. Manufacturers have made all of the parts in their cars smaller to save money. My mom's new Honda van has smaller springs, shocks, and stabilizer bars than it had in her old one. Less material, less money to produce. Not to mention they are making engines smaller and throwing turbo chargers on them to make them faster. Turbo charged engines aren't as dependable and wear out quick. Its a shame to what car manufacturers are doing to save money.
