Things You'll Need:
- Drain pan
- Crescent wrench
- Socket wrench
- Socket set
- Radiator bleed valve or complete unit with valve
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Step 1
Park the car on a level surface, engage the parking brake, and open the hood.
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Step 2
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
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Step 3
Remove the fill cap from the radiator. Open the radiator bleed valve as far as it will go by twisting the key, or knob on the top of the valve.
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Step 4
Place the drain pan directly beneath the radiator drain plug. The location of the drain plug will depend on the radiator model; consult your vehicle owner's manual for the exact location. Unscrew the drain plug just enough to begin draining the antifreeze into the pan. Wait until the antifreeze stops flowing before continuing.
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Step 5
Remove the radiator bleed valve either by using a crescent wrench to loosen the lock nut at the base of the valve directly above the bleed valve unit, or by using a socket wrench to remove the small bolts that attach the entire unit to the engine support. If you are removing the entire unit, once the bolts are undone you will have to pull the radiator hoses off the unit in order to remove it.
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Step 6
Install the replacement radiator bleed valve or unit. Installation is the reverse of removal. Make sure that if you are installing only the bleed valve that you do not force the valve into the unit, or over-tighten the lock nut. When you are done, re-tighten the radiator drain plug, and refill the radiator with antifreeze.
