Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting HOW TO: How do you drain the radiator of a 1996 contour GL?

Rate Member posted March 24, 2002 06:44 PM
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Hey friends and fellow contour enthusiasts:

As a poor college student, I don't have much money to go out and pay someone to fix my car-- so i am hoping you all could help me out! Do any of you know how to drain the RADIATOR of a 1996 ford contour GL? Any sources of where I can find out how? Usually, most cars have a small cap we can just twist and drain, yet this one has a plastic molding on the bottom, and I don't see any cap to twist! Can anyone lead me in the right direction and tell me how? It will be greatly appreciated!

JR>

I did a cooling system flush just last week, what a pain in the a**. Took me near 3 hours. Anyway, there is a small plactic screw on the bottom passenger side of the radiator. You need a flat head screw driver to get it out. It is very small ( less than 3/4" in dia. ). It should come out easily, watch your self, though, you dont wanna get soaked.

Crazy Craig's 'Tour

98 SE Sport
Silverfrost
ATX V6
Tinted windows, 35%

"It must be nice to hope for the thing you wish to want"

The screw thing is so inaccessible that many have found it easier to drain the majority of the fluid by just unclamping the bottom radiator hose. Once the bulk of the fluid is out, pushing that hose aside may make it easier to get at the screw plug.