Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Draining the Radiator

I have a 99 Zetec and it's time for new antifreeze. I read here that removing the drain plug isn't easy. Today I was going to do the job - but - just 'cause you can see the plug, doesn't mean you can remove it.
Question: Should I go shopping for a broad blade, very stubby screwdriver, or what?

Thanks in advance.

On my '95 Duratec I removed the lower shield, under the front bumper. If you jack the front up some, you should be able to find the plug with a flashlight. There is stuff around it, so you have to eyeball it from a particular angle. It's on the lower passenger side of the radiator. Mine had a plastic plug with a cross hole. I was able to feed a slotted screwdriver in and unscrew it. Mine had a catch so it would not fall out. Get a big drain pan, as it sprays a bit.

Put my car on ramps, took off radiator air dam, found drain plug on passenger side, used normal length flat head screw driver to loosen(very tight). IT's fun doing this when the engine is hot.

you don't need to use a screw driver.I stripe mine trying to get it off.then i found out that need nose plyers work the best.

I had a stubby that fit, but a quarter would probably work also.

My brother and I took off the radiator hose on my Zetec and put a hose into the one of the smaller hoses (I believe it was the top smaller hose) and flushed it out. Then we took an air hose from the compressor and flushed the rest of the water out. Did that five times and the system was flushed clean

If you take off the engine shield over the water pump, you will see a small (heater) hose below the wp with a coupling in it. You can separate the hose at that coupling and get another low drain and also flush both directions thru the small hose.
You can also check the wp belt and tensioner pulley while you're there.