how do I change the thermostat on a 2002 venture

Follow the top radiator hose to a housing..looks like a pipe on a flange. Usually two bolts. Remove housing, put new thermostat in the same way the old one is in, pay attention . The thermostat also has 'block side' and radiator side; on it, use a a little high temp silicone gasket sealer on both sides Do not over- torque. Top off coolant.

Just to add to what fordnut is telling you,spring all ways go,s in block,pay close attenttion as FN, said.

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Fordnut we are like Smokey and the bandit,look at our cars, : )

I get the girl this time

Lmao,k

If only it were that simple. The diagram is inaccurate above. There is not a top and bottom bolt as it appears in the diagram. There is a front and a rear bolt. The front bolt is made to come all the way out. The rear is just loosened and has a slot in the housing to lift the housing out. The front bolt has easy access. The rear bolt not so much ... Even after removing the radiator overflow as well as removing the air cleaner housing it takes a longer than standard 13 millimeter wrench to loosen the rear bolt enough to remove the thermostat housing. You will only have room enough to move the bolt about 1/8 th of an inch each time your on the bolt and I may be being generous to say it will be turned that much. You will require the patience of a saint and.. The perseverance of a championship football team to take on the repair. Its more appropriate to name this a project than a repair. Its rediculous how they designed this for the average person to basically ruin a 10 minute job on a vehicle made in the 80's. I understand the importance of mechanics and respect them. However to require you seek one to change a flippin thermostat is beyond anything I've seen in my life of figuring out how to do simple things on your own vehicle. It was easier to change a brake line than to change this thermostat ????

I went to Home Depot and bought a 13 mil. wrench for$ 2.50 because I wasn't going to sacrifice my Snap On tool . But once home with a combination 13 mil. wrench I heated it cherry red with my acetylene torch and bent the wrench in the shape of a C which made it easier to get the inaccessible bolt out .