- Unscrew the radiator and expansion tank caps. This can only be done on a cold engine. When the engine is hot, unscrew the cap until it clicks (using a rag) and wait until the pressure subsides.
- Take appropriate measures when draining coolant. When not. When working on the cooling system, it is not necessary to drain all the coolant. For example, when disconnecting the upper water hose or thermostat, it is enough to drain the liquid only to the height of the corresponding part.
- Set the heater adjustment lever to position "WARM".
- Open the drain valve at the bottom of the radiator and remove the plug from the side of the cylinder block. Figure 120 shows the location of both plugs on a 2.0 liter engine. On a 1.6 liter engine, the radiator plug is located in the lower right corner, as seen in Figure 120. The blocking plug is located approximately in the middle of the cylinder block on the front side.
Pic. 120. Location of drain plugs on the engine and lower part of the radiator (shown for 2.0L engine)
- After draining the coolant, close the tap and plug. After draining the coolant, the cooling system should be flushed as part of a routine coolant change. To do this, insert a water hose into the radiator filler neck and pass water through the cooling system until clean water flows out of the drain holes. To improve flushing, start the engine.
To fill coolant:
- Check again to see if the drain points are closed.
- Prepare a frost-resistant composition in accordance with expected temperatures. Usually a solution of 50% water and 50% antifreeze is sufficient.
- Slowly fill the cooling system to the bottom edge of the radiator filler neck and also pour liquid into the expansion tank.
- Close the radiator and expansion tank caps.
- Warm up the engine to operating temperature and then allow it to cool again. After a few hours, check the coolant level again and add coolant if necessary.
- Fill the expansion tank to the mark "FULL". On a cold engine, the coolant level may be between the marks in the expansion tank "LOW" And "FULL".