I didn't see the bottom of the two nuts on the backside. The manual said there were two and I had pulled two out. Anyway, I broke the ear off the rear housing for the thermostat. I took the two bolts I could see out, but it looks like it goes behind the intake. Do I need to remove the everything from the intake manifold to get this part out?

 

Okay, it looks like it goes all the way over to the water pump. Does anyone know how to get it out? I can't find any nuts or bolts. Do I need to remove the water pump??

 

when I replace the thermostat housing there are only two bolts to take out, one on each ear.

You do not need to touch the intake manifold or work around it, but you may need to take apart the intake pipe if it is in the way, just to make things easier.

Now if you broke the the housing that attaches to the engine I believe there are 2 bolts on that part that need to be removed.

I forget all what I used, but a 10mm wrench and 10mm socket wrench with maybe an extension came into play.

Thermostat housing is located on upper back left corner of engine, you don't need to mess with the water pump, located on the right side of the engine.

 

The water pipe is steel, the thermostat housing is aluminum. There is no fastener between them but there is an o-ring seal on the pipe that goes into the housing. So once you have the housing unbolted, you need to pull the housing straight off of the pipe. It may take some force if it's rusted on. The other end of the pipe that goes into the block to feed the water pump is made the same way.

 

How did you break an ear off?

 

Thanks mk, that's the part I'm talking about. But it is totally stuck on there and there is no room for prying. Do you have any ideas about how I could get it off that pipe. I can't even get the pipe to pull out of the water pump side.

 

My manual didn't show the bolt with the ground(?) wire attached to it. It just said there were two bolts and that it may be stuck. I pulled two bolts, didn't see the other actual bolt that held it on, tapped it and it broke the ear off.

 

Have you tried from underneath the car? Remove intake manifold bracket then you might be able to wail on the housing with a hammer.