Where is the thermostat on a Dodge Stratus 2.7 liter?

Answer 1

It is under the housing where the lower radiator hose hooks onto the engine.

The thermostat housing is located at the end of the lower radiator hose where it attaches to the engine block.

The following instructions come from Hanes Repair Manual #25040 for the replacement of a thermostat on the 2.7 L engine:

1. Raise the vehicle and place it securely on jackstands. Remove the right front wheel. Remove the accessory drivebelt splash shield.

2. Remove the accessory drivebelt that goes around the alternator.

3. Remove the lower alternator mounting bolt.

4. Lower the vehicle.

5. Disconnect the alternator electrical connectors.

6. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the air conditioning compressor.

7. Remove the oil dipstick and the dipstick tube. Plug the hole in the oil pan with a clean shop rag to prevent debris from entering the pan. (It may be possible to remove the alternator without removing the dipstick tube. I was able to get the alternator past the dipstick tube without removing it.)

8. Remove the rest of the alternator mounting bolts and then remove the alternator.

9. Loosen the hose clamps and then disconnect the two hoses from the thermostat housing cover. (You might not have to disconnect the hoses, but it made it easier for me to find the lower bolt hole in the thermostat housing with the hoses out of the way when it was time to try to bolt the thermostat housing back in place.)

10. Remove the thermostat housing cover bolts (3) and then remove the housing. (I had to loosen the bolts on the air conditioning compressor and let the compressor drop about an inch to get access to the lower bolt in the thermostat housing.)

11. Note how the thermostat is installed, with the "jiggle valve" at the 12 o'clock position, and then remove the thermostat.

12. Remove all traces of sealant from the housing and cover with a gasket scraper.

13. Install the thermostat housing cover and then tighten the bolts to the correct torque.

14. Reattach the hoses to the thermostat housing cover. Make sure that the hose clamps are still tight.

15. The remainder of the installation is the reverse of the removal.

16. When you're done, refill the cooling system. (You have to open a bleeder valve where the upper radiator hose attaches to the engine to let air out of the system so that antifreeze can be added.)

17. Start the engine and allow it to reach normal operating temperature, then check for leaks and proper thermostat operation.

(Took me over a day to get this done because the thermostat is in such a hard place to get to. Not a difficult task, but it takes a lot of time removing components so that you can get access to the thermostat housing).