I hear ya, its a pain to refix something that should be fixed. I'll be doing the same this weekend. Last time I buy from a chain store!! This will be my third in two weeks.

 

I've been keeping an eye on mine for this thread. When my Bronco is fully warmed up, the needle is between the "N" and the "O" and pretty much stays there. It used to read higher, between the "O" and the "R," but since I took the instrument cluster apart and cleaned and tightened all of the contacts it reads properly and does not seem to fluctuate much anymore.

 

Well we just put in the new thermostat and it works great! Went to the dealership and they sold me one that was a 197. It's below zero tonight with wind chills around 30 below, so of course it took a while to heat up. ( Thank God for a heated garage!) Took it for a spin and the stat opened around the R and then dropped back to the N and then fluctuated between the N and the O. However it is REALLY cold so I didn't expect it to do anymore than that. Good heat in the cab also. I think it's fixed now so I will stop obsessing for now. Let me know if you have anything else to add.

 

Sometimes it don't pay to buy aftermarket parts made in China.

Pay a little extra and buy the good stuff and you will only have to do it once!

AutoZone may have really good prices compared to others but theres a reason for that. And I think you found out why.

 

I replaced mine today as well, I wasn't up to it but sure am glad I did. I bought a 198 and when I looked it up it ranges from 192 - 198 so I looked up the 192 I bought last week and its range was 186 - 192! No wonder it was colder!!! Anyway I now have heat in the "M" and "a" in normal, which is a bit higher than what I had orginally but thats ok I'm loving the heat right now. I think next time I will get a 196 but there is no rush on that.