Draining Coolant
 

I tried to dump the coolant to change it and opened the valve on the lower hose and nothing came out, so I removed the spring clip on the lower hose connector and I could not get the plastic connector loose at the connection to the radiator. I was afraid to twist it hard. How does this hose come off the lower hose mount?

mine pulled straight off. I do recall that it took a good bit of effort to get it to release.

Thanks, I'll give it another try.

I just took mine off yesterday to do the alternator and I had the same problem. You can't twist it because it's keyed to the radiator, so I just had to wiggle it back and forth a lot. I had even more trouble getting it back on until I put a little bit of grease on the internal O-ring. Then it went right on. Just be careful, because it's all plastic.

i had the same problem with the valve .. i poked a screwdriver in their and it came pouring out .. a silt buildup on the exit port .. didn't have to disconnect anything

I tried sticking a heavy wire in the outlet nipple with the valve open and it felt solid inside, maybe I'll have another go at it. It's good to know the connector will come off with some work. It's kind of strange that there is so much debris in there in a car with only 50,000 miles...didn't expect that.

to be fair mine has 350,000km on it and is the 2.8 . although this part i think is the same .. i just loosened the red thumb screw thing stuck a screwdriver in and out intpoured .. yours may be different. when i disconnected the hoses I did it at the engine not the rad .. rad is too delicate and fragile..

Good point....Does the drain valve open in a half turn? Mine stops at a half turn but since its blocked, I'm not sure how it operates, it could just be sticking too.

OOps. sorry, I meant a quarter-turn.

hey with all hose's and sensor held in by clips and o-rings. i found that if u push inward on it and spray some pb blaster or wd 40 in the clip groove then pull and wiggle they come right out no problem....even the real stuburn ones...just lube it up...