Help with Replacing a Thermost on Protege 03 odd housing

[xlilmikeyx]

I am working on my friends 2003 Mazda Protege(ES/not turbo). Coolant is backing up and easy test is to replace the thermostat. Here is my problem. Every DIY/picture I see a 2 bolt housing. This housing is 4 bolts but one bolt is blocked by the copper pipe exiting the exhaust manifold and around the engine towards the firewall.

Anyone every seen an engine with this? Is there anyway around removing the pipe since getting to the one side would require me to take off the throttle body(atleast).

Would removing the pipe from the manifold only allow enough flex to remove the blocked bolt?

I thank you for your help.

 

[beh]

The thermostat is on the passenger side of the car toward the bumper.

 

[njaremka]

yeah, thats not the thermostat housing. follow the lower raditor hose towards the engine, and thats the thermostat housing.

 

[xlilmikeyx]

ha...I knew something was up.

Pissed I went in blind using the gasket the guy from AutoZone gave me as a guide to the housing...sure enough it was just an empty housing for the hose/temp sensor. Well...got the thermostat in and fixed some other problems I came across...saving my buddy some major cash...thanks for the info everyone. I'll return from my vdub forums on the next go around with a mazda. Thanks again

 

[P-Funk!]

The peeps on this forum are glad to be of service!

 

[MaxPower]

I had the same issue... Autozone has the wrong part listed for the thermostat gasket.