If you're driving in your Dodge Dakota and all of a sudden your temperature gauge spikes up past 220 degrees Fahrenheit, your thermostat likely just failed. This is an especially serious problem if you're off-road. Fortunately, a broken thermostat can be fixed with an adjustable wrench, screwdriver and a very inexpensive replacement thermostat.
Instructions
- 1
Remove the thermostat casing from the Dodge Dakota by extracting the three bolts that hold it to the the intake manifold. Find the casing by locating the black hose connected to the top of the radiator. The other end of the hose is connected to the thermostat casing.
2Pull up on the gasket and thermostat to remove them from the intake manifold. There are no latches holding them in. They are held in place by the casing. Wipe away any dirt that may have accumulated around the manifold to prevent dirt from getting into the engine.
3Place a new thermostat into the intake manifold. Make sure it's oriented in the same way the broken one was before you took it out. If it's put in upside down, it will not work properly. Place the new gasket on top of the thermostat and bolt the casing back down to the manifold.
