[STI Sibb]

I've got the car jacked up and the undercover removed. It took a second to figure out the easy way to remove the clips.

The instructions tell me to open the radiator cap and filler cap. Then it tells me to drain the coolant through a valve at the base of the radiator. The service manual picture was not helpful in locating it. It is black, plastic, and on the passenger side right at the base of the radiator.

The problem I have is that it tells me to drain it into a recepticle, but the valve is located directly over some of the metal car frame. There are 2 openings on the valve; a large bore at the base and a smaller bore at the side.

Which one of these bores does the coolant exit from? If its the small one, I can just run a small tube from it to the recepticle. If its the large one, its just going to dump and run every which way.

[elirentz]

Long story short it will come out of both. Something I use to help keep the coolant from running along the sub-frame is hang a rag under the valve and let the coolant run down the rag.

[sti_rules]

I've used that valve before and it sucks. some comes out the tap and some comes out the thumb screw. Also be aware that the thumbscrew valve thing has o-rings on it. Once it's threaded out the o-ring still holds it in there so you need to wiggle it out after it's unthreaded. I think some people just unclamp the lower hose and drain it that way. I think I will next time because that valve spikot thing sucks.

[STI Sibb]

Originally Posted by sti_rules

I've used that valve before and it sucks. some comes out the tap and some comes out the thumb screw. Also be aware that the thumbscrew valve thing has o-rings on it. Once it's threaded out the o-ring still holds it in there so you need to wiggle it out after it's unthreaded. I think some people just unclamp the lower hose and drain it that way. I think I will next time because that valve spikot thing sucks.

I will testify that you speak the truth. I'm cussing this little valve. I can't even get it turned open (lefty loosey) more than 1 turn. It's too tight to move. I took the air intake off to try and get it from another angle and couldn't budge it further. I can barely get a pair of pliers in there to turn it some, but not all the way.
I looked at the hose, but whoever installed it has the opening clasps facing away from access.

I'm gonna go get me a small socket and cut a groove in the end to see if it can grab the sprocket flap. That should allow me to ratchet it loose.

[elirentz]

Are you trying to do it from above?

[STI Sibb]

Originally Posted by elirentz

Are you trying to do it from above?

I've got the car up on jackstands.

I was trying from below, but I had difficulty turning the valve open from below. So, I took the intake off to try and maneuver a pair of pliers down there (I have skinny arms). That allowed me to turn it a bit more but there is a dead point where my fingers are not strong enough to turn this thing and the pliers lose travel. I can turn it 1 turn before I am unable to turn it further.

I need a socket with a slit in it. This will let me open it with ease from above.

[elirentz]

sometimes they can be a pain

[STI Sibb]

Originally Posted by elirentz

sometimes they can be a pain

Amen...i'll let you know how it turns out after I get a machine shop buddy to make my special socket.

Do you have any idea how many turns it takes to open it? A buddy also informed me that most plugs of this type are threaded reverse (lefty - tighty). Is that true with ours?