How do you replace the thermostat on a 1988 Toyota Tercel and where is the thermostat housing on same?

Answer 1

follow the top radiator hose to the engine. that is where your thermostat housing is. you will have to drain the radiator, remove the engine side of the hose and remove the thermostat housing to access it. remove thermostat clean mating surface of housing and engine, install thermostat, install housing, secure radiator hose, fill with coolant. start engine and check for leaks. +++++++ The above answer is actually incorrect. ++++++++ On my 1988 Toyota Tercel (1.5L, 4cyl, manual), the thermostat housing is located by following the BOTTOM radiator hose UP to where it connects with the engine. There you see a metal piece that looks like an eye, with one bolt in "the corner of the eye" on both sides. --- This metal "eye" piece is about the size of your thermostat. --- If you follow the top radiator hose like the instructions in 99.5% of articles/forum posts/guides/etc you'll find online, that info will be WRONG for this car. I searched for two days and found nothing useful -- no diagrams, nothing about the thermostat housing being connected to the BOTTOM radiator hose! Following the top hose will lead you to the engine housing and valve cover, then another "eye" shaped piece, then your distributor cap (where you connect your spark plugs). This metal "eye" -- which is sandwiched between the valve housing and the distributor cap is about the size of the distributor cap, or a very large grapefruit. This is NOT the correct location of your thermostat. Yes, the thermostat is located by following the top radiator hose on MOST cars. But this may not be true for older model (80's?) Tercels. (I found another answer on FAQFarm about a 1984 Tercel, and the thermostat was also found by following the bottom hose.) After following the appropriate hose, everything else about installing an '88 Tercel thermostat should be the same. ~HARMONY