Changing Coolant
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 429
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From: Burlington Ontario
Changing Coolant
Trying to change coolant for first time in my 2004 . I can not get the drain plug to let the coolant drain. Turned 1/4 turn counter clock wise but nothing is coming out. Turned it bit until it stopped. Nothing happening. I was told to be careful or it would break . This is a plastic plugged and used a 1/4" drive to turn it. How do you know if you broke it?
Guess it sounds like I broke it. Can they be replaced easily or is this changing the radiator.
Guess it sounds like I broke it. Can they be replaced easily or is this changing the radiator.
Last edited by bsmithC5/2004; Oct 30, 2016 at 02:03 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,302
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From: Western NY
If you aren't the original owner of the car, and don't know the maintenance history, it's possible that the coolant hasn't been changed in a LONG time, therefore the plug is simply plugged/stuck. I'd try gently jiggling it around, when it's loose, and see if you can get the coolant to flow.
I just changed my coolant a couple of days ago, on my '01. Once I loosen the plastic piece you're referring to, the coolant drains out of a rubber "spout" that points down. If your car is like that, you might want to loosen the drain, and carefully poke a piece of wire, or straightened out paper clip, in this spout. Maybe there's some crud plugging it up.
I just changed my coolant a couple of days ago, on my '01. Once I loosen the plastic piece you're referring to, the coolant drains out of a rubber "spout" that points down. If your car is like that, you might want to loosen the drain, and carefully poke a piece of wire, or straightened out paper clip, in this spout. Maybe there's some crud plugging it up.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Ontario
If you aren't the original owner of the car, and don't know the maintenance history, it's possible that the coolant hasn't been changed in a LONG time, therefore the plug is simply plugged/stuck. I'd try gently jiggling it around, when it's loose, and see if you can get the coolant to flow.
I just changed my coolant a couple of days ago, on my '01. Once I loosen the plastic piece you're referring to, the coolant drains out of a rubber "spout" that points down. If your car is like that, you might want to loosen the drain, and carefully poke a piece of wire, or straightened out paper clip, in this spout. Maybe there's some crud plugging it up.
I just changed my coolant a couple of days ago, on my '01. Once I loosen the plastic piece you're referring to, the coolant drains out of a rubber "spout" that points down. If your car is like that, you might want to loosen the drain, and carefully poke a piece of wire, or straightened out paper clip, in this spout. Maybe there's some crud plugging it up.
The plug will turn about 3/4 of a turn and stop. I can turn it back 3/4 turn and it will stop.
Can the plug itself be replaced? Can it fall out when broken? Might be easier pulling the bottom rad hose?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Burlington Ontario
I already tried putting a piece of wire up the drain whole and really could not get it up very far. Not really sure of the position now after a 3/4 turn CCW. I cab turn it back 3/4 turn clockwise and it stops. It will turn 360.
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Thanks for the info. Will keep this on file in case I ever need to use it.
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Mine doesn't "Turn" out, I have to pull it. Turn it the 1/4 turn left, grab with a pair of pliers and pull. Should come right out. Fyi, there's no way I can pull it with my fingers. It's not much more than I could pull, but it ain't happening. Use pliers.
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I am the original owner bought it new in 2004. It has 15000 original miles. The coolant looks really red and it was brought to my attention it should be changed.
The plug will turn about 3/4 of a turn and stop. I can turn it back 3/4 turn and it will stop.
Can the plug itself be replaced? Can it fall out when broken? Might be easier pulling the bottom rad hose?
The plug will turn about 3/4 of a turn and stop. I can turn it back 3/4 turn and it will stop.
Can the plug itself be replaced? Can it fall out when broken? Might be easier pulling the bottom rad hose?
Once you get the plug out and replace it flush the cooling system to get out all of the old coolant. That will take draining, refilling with water, draining again and refilling, repeating until the drained fluid runs clear. Once the drained fluid is clear water then add in half the cooling system capacity of pure DexCool and top off with water. That will get you to 50% mix of all new fluid. Not sure what damage would have occurred due to not changing the coolant as all of corrosion inhibitors and water pump lubricant they put in it are long gone but hopefully, the radiator, heater core, water pump bushing and the engine cooling passages haven't been damaged.
Bill
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
Wow talk about lack of maintenance, it should have been changed in 2009 and 2014. Dex is a great coolant but they tell you to change it every 5 years or every 150K miles which ever comes first.
Once you get the plug out and replace it flush the cooling system to get out all of the old coolant. That will take draining, refilling with water, draining again and refilling, repeating until the drained fluid runs clear. Once the drained fluid is clear water then add in half the cooling system capacity of pure DexCool and top off with water. That will get you to 50% mix of all new fluid. Not sure what damage would have occurred due to not changing the coolant as all of corrosion inhibitors and water pump lubricant they put in it are long gone but hopefully, the radiator, heater core, water pump bushing and the engine cooling passages haven't been damaged.
Bill
Once you get the plug out and replace it flush the cooling system to get out all of the old coolant. That will take draining, refilling with water, draining again and refilling, repeating until the drained fluid runs clear. Once the drained fluid is clear water then add in half the cooling system capacity of pure DexCool and top off with water. That will get you to 50% mix of all new fluid. Not sure what damage would have occurred due to not changing the coolant as all of corrosion inhibitors and water pump lubricant they put in it are long gone but hopefully, the radiator, heater core, water pump bushing and the engine cooling passages haven't been damaged.
Bill
I didn't want to slam the OP, while he was attempting to do the right thing, but yeah, that was one of the first things that crossed my mind. I'd now say that the drain hole in the radiator is probably filled shut with crud.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
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Trying to change coolant for first time in my 2004 . I can not get the drain plug to let the coolant drain. Turned 1/4 turn counter clock wise but nothing is coming out. Turned it bit until it stopped. Nothing happening. I was told to be careful or it would break . This is a plastic plugged and used a 1/4" drive to turn it. How do you know if you broke it?
Guess it sounds like I broke it. Can they be replaced easily or is this changing the radiator.
Guess it sounds like I broke it. Can they be replaced easily or is this changing the radiator.
Last edited by Sam Handwich; Nov 6, 2016 at 11:31 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 120
It is a bit finicky. Once I figured it out I thought it was well-designed, especially compared to the old-fashioned metal petcocks.