Welp, I changed the coolant yesterday. What a mess! I loosened the engine and radiator drain plugs, let the coolant out, filled the radiator with water, let the car run for a few minutes, then loosened the plugs again and filled it back up. EVerything is working fine now. Thank God that's done, thou...

Hate to bug everyone again...I did find the engine drain plug, right where you said it was (thanks) on the back of the engine. One more question: What kind of wrench/tool is needed for the radiator petcock drain plug? I looked at it, and it looks like it needs some kind of hex or star tool? What siz...

Thanks so much for the info. I'll check it out this weekend...

champcaracing, thanks for the info. I'll look in the back of the engine. You say it's between cylinder 3 and 4? Very close to the transmission? Thanks. I assume since it's a tough place to get to, I'll need a piece of hose to keep the coolant from splashing everywhere...

The radiator drain plug only empties half of the coolant, while the engine block drain plug empties the other half. In my previous cars, I always loosened both the radiator drain plug and the engine block drain plug. For some reason, Pontiac doesn't do a good job of telling exactly where the engine ...

Futseal04, there is a coolant plug on the engine block that I am looking for.Y'know, it's funny--that picture shows the engine drain plug being about midway down on the FRONT of the engine. Well, I found a small spigot facing the fan on the front of the engine, and I opened it a bit, and liquid star...

I agree-there is no way the engine drain plug would be as high up as shown in the diagram. It would have to be lower on the engine, perhaps near the lower radiator hose? I'll get under my car this weekend and look. Thanks!

I'm not a mechanic, either. I wish I knew one! I've changed the coolant on previous cars, and the engine drain plug was always easy to access. Doesn't look like it on this car, though. Perhaps the Prestone Flush n Fill kit is the way to go.Everything else on the Vibe/Matrix is easy to work on, thou...

So the plug for the engine might be down there? I already know about where the radiator plug is, but no one seems to know the location of the engine plug. Perhaps I should just buy a flush and fill kit instead...

Ok, so I look at the service manual for the Vibe/Matrix, and it shows a vague drawing of where the engine coolant drain plug is for the base engine. So I looked under my hood and found nothing. Has anyone found it out there? Is it accessed from above or below? Do you have to take the plastic off the...