I am trying to replace the water temp sensor "housing" not the sensor, but the little do dad that it screws in to. The do dad or housing screws in to the engine and has a half inch hose coming off the bottom and the sensor screws in to it and then the electric wire hooks to the sensor. The housing which is off with the sensor still attached developed a hole and started leaking causing my van to overheat. I took the entire unit to the only part store that was open and he said he did not know what the unit was called that the sensor in screwed in to. My van is a 1996 aerostar 3.0 I have searched the internet and can only find the sensor, but not the thing that it screws in to

 

That part is not a common failure item. It is not made aftermarket, so you will need to pull a good one from a junkyard.

Corrosion like that would suggest that you are not changing your coolant nearly often enough, and/or you have mineral contamination in the coolant.

 

I'm sorry, where in my question did you read that there was corrosion? I said it had developed a hole and was leaking. So if you know part it is and can not buy it after market what is it called?

 

I would just assume that if it has a hole in it, it must have corroded through, no other reason it should have a hole in it.

There is a thermostat housing, however that is the part that holds the thermostat in place and it has no sensors in it. So its not the part you need. On the 4.0L the part you need is part of the lower intake manifold, but its been a while since I worked on a 3.0L. I'm not sure what it would be called.

I know its not available aftermarket because when you pull up every cooling system part in an aftermarket website like Rockauto.com, the part you need is not listed. They show the thermostat housing, which is not what you need based on your description.

 

Ok all you experts..I found the part on my own by making one phone call to a ford dealer auto part counter..I explained what it was I needed and within a couple of mins. he found the part...are you ready for what it is called???
Hot water elbow!!! It houses the engine coolant temperature sensor and yes it is an after market part and price was $24.40

 

Yet you did not buy it from your Ford dealer that found your part for $24.56?

Way to help out the guy that helped you, run to the nearest vato-zone.

 

I think between the attitude and course of action, I know all I need to know about our newest member. If I were in your shoes, I'd buy it from the guy who helped you find out what it even was.