2004 Toyota RAV4: Replacing the thermostat

In this video, I replaced the thermostat on a 2004 Toyota RAV4.
Torque specs: Water inlet/thermostat housing nuts: 80in/lbs, Alternator mounting bolt (upper) 16ft/lb, Alternator mounting bolt (lower) 38ft/lb.

[@robertt4814]

Your video is great - thanks so much. However, what you need to do to get the thermostat out (remove the engine block bolt (s) then remove AC compressor or remove the serpentine belt to move the alternator out of the way is true but NUTS!!!). Thanks for the fair warning of how difficult this seemingly easy job is.

[@rjsmith7170]

Thanks a million for the very informative video.

[@Rednuts351]

Thanks for your help Champ.

[@arnomaas6452]

Very useful video !

[@neilmoomey]

Good video thanks!

[@obipanda]

Thank you for this.

[@babla1976]

Helpful video

[@kevin041777]

Thank you for your video. Quick question: if you had removed the lower alternator bolt first would you have been able to move the alternator far enough out of the way so that you didn't need to remove the "stud"? Thanks again!

[@solorasolis1392]

Well I tried to take out the top torx stud but it's stripped, no way to get it out and I can't reach the bottom one. Any idea how the heck I can get it out?

[@AKJeeper]

You'll have to start removing whatever is in your way; The A/C compressor will need to be unbolted from its mounts and moved out of the way. Hopefully there's enough slack in the A/C lines to move the compressor out of the way without needing to have the refrigerant recovered and the system discharged.

[@narrowpath777]

Thanks for the video. No housing gasket?

[@AKJeeper]

None for the housing. It relies on the rubber o-ring around the thermostat to make the seal. Pretty common set up on Japanese vehicles.

[@narrowpath777]

Thanks. I just got a 04 rav4 with 200k on it. It’s consuming violent. But no leaks. Hope it’s not the head gasket. Good video though. Tight quarters to work on the thermostat though.

[@cptak1]

Torque Specs?

[@AKJeeper]

I posted it in the video description, but here are the torque specs:
Torque specs: Water inlet/thermostat housing nuts: 80in/lbs, Alternator mounting bolt (upper) 16ft/lb, Alternator mounting bolt (lower) 38ft/lb.

[@marl3au369]

lol torque to spec