How to Replace a Mercury Villager Thermostat

by Carl Pruit

Introduced in 1992, the Mercury Villager was built from a joint venture between the Ford Motor Company and Nissan. Just like its counterpart, the Nissan Quest, the Mercury Villager is powered by a Nissan engine. Routine maintenance of the moto'rs cooling system will keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. If you notice any overheating of your vehicle's engine, you may need to replace the thermostat. This is a fairly easy procedure and will prevent your vehicle from experiencing more costly engine problems.

Step 1

Remove the negative battery cable from your battery with an open end wrench. Move the end of the detached cable into a position where it will not touch any metal parts that could create a spark.

Step 2

Place a drain pan under the radiator's drain plug. You will find the drain plug on the bottom edge of the radiator. Locate the thermostat housing at the other end of the top radiator hose from the radiator. You are going to drain the radiator so that the coolant will be just below the level of the thermostat housing.

Step 3

Remove the cap from the radiator, and then turn the radiator drain plug by hand until the coolant level has drained below the level of the thermostat housing. Once it has reached the desired level, shut the drain plug off by tightening it with your hand.

Step 4

Remove the thermostat housing by using a socket wrench to undo the bolts holding it onto the engine block. Once the housing is free, remove the old thermostat from the housing and discard it.

Step 5

Clean the face of the thermostat housing and the engine block where the housing is attached with an emery cloth to remove any debris or remaining gasket material. Place a bead of gasket seal around the face of the thermostat housing, but be careful not to get any sealant inside the housing.

Step 6

Place the new thermostat on the thermostat housing with the spring facing out. Attach the thermostat housing with the new thermostat to the engine block with bolts. Fill the radiator with coolant until it is full, and place the cap back on the radiator.

Step 7

Remove the drain pan from under the vehicle, and reattach the negative battery cable to the vehicle's battery. Start the vehicle and allow it to warm up so you can test the thermostat. Watch the vehicle's temperature and verify that it is maintaining a proper level.