Timing

You can take off the outside serpentine belt that drives the alternator, power-steering and such but you do not have to remove the timing belt to replace the thermostat. It looks like it is at the top right side of the engine looking at the front of the motor.

if you have a 2.8 there is no work around you have to remove the water pump to get to the thermostat which is attached to the timing belt. If you are close to a timeing belt change (90,000km) then jsut bite the bullet and change the belt pulleys tensior and water pump at the same time .