Help!!! Drain plug broken!!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 881
Likes: 1
From: Hernando MS
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Help!!! Drain plug broken!!!!
I decided to drain and flush the radiator today...the drain plug is a push and pull affair, kinda like a wing nut zus fastener...well it broke!! I turned it counterclockwise and it snapped off!!!
I have it partially extended and antifreeze is draining...how do you remove the plug to replace it??? and is it a replaceable item???
Help!!!!
Sorry I mistakenly put this post in the general C5 section also..
I have it partially extended and antifreeze is draining...how do you remove the plug to replace it??? and is it a replaceable item???
Help!!!!
Sorry I mistakenly put this post in the general C5 section also..
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 0
From: Lost Angeles CA
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Originally Posted by 12stepvette
why would the radiator have to come out???
I can grab whats left of the plug....but before I do...is it removable??
I can grab whats left of the plug....but before I do...is it removable??
dude give me a call same thing happened to mine
dean
Last edited by devo; Jan 27, 2005 at 04:43 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 243
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by 12stepvette
why would the radiator have to come out???
I can grab whats left of the plug....but before I do...is it removable??
I can grab whats left of the plug....but before I do...is it removable??
Robert
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 881
Likes: 1
From: Hernando MS
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
First off, I gotta say thanks to Dean for the reassuring Phone call.... 
Next, Let me share all that I found out about our little friend, The radiator drain plug!
The earlier vettes, `97-00 have a drain plug kinda like a wing nut. These were prone to breaking right where mine broke, at the shoulder! Then in `01, they came out with a much better plug that was thicker at the shoulder and used the 1/4 " drive in the center for turning.
The Plug has a 1/8" steel pin that rides in a groove and allows exactly 1/4 turn from fully closed and locked to fully open and draining. Halfway between fully open and fully closed, is where the pin aligns with a slot and you can pull the plug straight out for replacement.
Wish I had a photo of the plug, But the part number is, 52484010 and costs 3.66.
I can assure you all....the radiator does not need removal for the plug swap!!
Next, Let me share all that I found out about our little friend, The radiator drain plug!
The earlier vettes, `97-00 have a drain plug kinda like a wing nut. These were prone to breaking right where mine broke, at the shoulder! Then in `01, they came out with a much better plug that was thicker at the shoulder and used the 1/4 " drive in the center for turning.
The Plug has a 1/8" steel pin that rides in a groove and allows exactly 1/4 turn from fully closed and locked to fully open and draining. Halfway between fully open and fully closed, is where the pin aligns with a slot and you can pull the plug straight out for replacement.
Wish I had a photo of the plug, But the part number is, 52484010 and costs 3.66.
I can assure you all....the radiator does not need removal for the plug swap!!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 243
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by 12stepvette
First off, I gotta say thanks to Dean for the reassuring Phone call....
Next, Let me share all that I found out about our little friend, The radiator drain plug!
The earlier vettes, `97-00 have a drain plug kinda like a wing nut. These were prone to breaking right where mine broke, at the shoulder! Then in `01, they came out with a much better plug that was thicker at the shoulder and used the 1/4 " drive in the center for turning.
The Plug has a 1/8" steel pin that rides in a groove and allows exactly 1/4 turn from fully closed and locked to fully open and draining. Halfway between fully open and fully closed, is where the pin aligns with a slot and you can pull the plug straight out for replacement.
Wish I had a photo of the plug, But the part number is, 52484010 and costs 3.66.
I can assure you all....the radiator does not need removal for the plug swap!!
Next, Let me share all that I found out about our little friend, The radiator drain plug!
The earlier vettes, `97-00 have a drain plug kinda like a wing nut. These were prone to breaking right where mine broke, at the shoulder! Then in `01, they came out with a much better plug that was thicker at the shoulder and used the 1/4 " drive in the center for turning.
The Plug has a 1/8" steel pin that rides in a groove and allows exactly 1/4 turn from fully closed and locked to fully open and draining. Halfway between fully open and fully closed, is where the pin aligns with a slot and you can pull the plug straight out for replacement.
Wish I had a photo of the plug, But the part number is, 52484010 and costs 3.66.
I can assure you all....the radiator does not need removal for the plug swap!!
Glad to hear you're OK on the plug thing!BTW, the plug on my '99 is also as you describe. I use a 1/4" drive nut driver to remove it. Since I bought it new (late Mar '99 build date), I know it has not been retrofitted.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,840
Likes: 301
From: Bonita CA
My 2000 already has the 1/4" hex type too. Never was changed. The parts listings also do not show a revised P/N for newer plugs. The same P/N is listed for the '99, 00 and 01 as is listed here, 52484010.
Last edited by 2KREDVert; Jan 28, 2005 at 07:37 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
That's good news. I think I broke that pin off in mine last year. As the plug just spun around in the hole. I just screwed it back in and hoped for the best. It's been holding ever since. But, now I know I can replace that piece at some point down the road.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 881
Likes: 1
From: Hernando MS
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
My Parts manual is broken down into two sections for the Cooling section... Years `97-2000, and `01-2004, So I naturally assumed thats where the divide came in for the upgraded Plug...Looks like it might have been incorperated as early as `99.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 794
From: Longview Texas
Originally Posted by 12stepvette
My Parts manual is broken down into two sections for the Cooling section... Years `97-2000, and `01-2004, So I naturally assumed thats where the divide came in for the upgraded Plug...Looks like it might have been incorperated as early as `99.
So will this plug fit all years through 2004?
