Where is the engine coolant drain plug? Has anyone found it?

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 9:59 pm

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 engine to get to it? Thanks for any help. I really want to do the coolant change myself, but don't want to do it without draining the coolant from the engine.

agbhyde · Post by **agbhyde** » Thu Aug 26, 2004 10:47 pm

just got mine with 4000 miles, so dont know exactly. BUT, if its the drain plug your looking for, they are usually under the car. If I remember correctly (from inserting the Injen CAI Filter) you might have to unbolt some of the plastic under the front bumper to access the radiator. It should be somewhere around there.

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:05 am

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...

agbhyde · Post by **agbhyde** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 2:12 am

like i said, i am not a mechanic, but i've never heard of an engine coolant drain. I should also mentioned that Ive neve changed the coolant in a car, so should probably just shutup

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 2:23 am

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, though!

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 2:45 am

Here is a pic from the GM service manual, not very good and the only one under draining coolant. However, drain plugs are always on one of the bottom corners. From this pic it appears to be on the drivers side, bottom. I do not have my Vibe here with me but can look tonight too. Changing the coolant???

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hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 3:28 am

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!

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 10:40 pm

I stand corrected you asked for an engine drain plug, I gave you the radiator drain plug. Do not know if the engine has one of those. I usually remove the lower rad hose to get most of the coolant out and if putting a new t-stat in the car even more coolant comes out. To get all the coolant from around the block, you will most likely have to flush it some way. Most vehicles now do not have a air bleeder valve, so when refilling the system you may have to leave a hose disconnected to get the air out, usually the highest hose in the system. Just did my Corvette due to its mileage 54K and it to had no bleeder valve however I had to leave the throttle body hose disconnected until coolant ran out.

champcaracing · Post by **champcaracing** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 8:53 am

1zz engine on the back side of engine, bout mid way up, between 3 and 4 cylinders... 2zz on the front of the engine, above the oil filter, maybe off to either side.

futseal04 · Post by **futseal04** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 11:40 am

Quote, originally posted by champcaracing Â»1zz engine on the back side of engine, bout mid way up, between 3 and 4 cylinders... 2zz on the front of the engine, above the oil filter, maybe off to either side.Are you talking about the freeze plugs?

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:35 pm

Sounds like it to me and if you remove one of those, they do not simply install back into the engine. No threads, pressed in...

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:36 pm

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 started coming out, but it didn't look or smell like coolant! I wonder what that spigot is for? Anyways, you mention that the engine drain plug is on the BACK of the engine, midway down between the 3rd and 4th cylinder. Do you know if it's easy to access? I looked back there and didn't see it on the 1zz engine.Any Pontiac or Toyota (Matrix) mechanics out there? This is becoming more of an obsession every day!

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:43 pm

I am a wrench and I too am getting confused with this. The GM serv manual makes no mention of an engine drain plug, just the radiator drain plug on the lower bottom drivers side. If you loosened it and coolant came out, that is it. Freeze plugs are not mentioned either and if that is what Futseal is referring to, they are not drain plugs. Sure they will drain the coolant from the block but you cannot re-install that same plug. I too would like to know what the hell it is... Help, more info is needed Champcar...

futseal04 · Post by **futseal04** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 11:57 pm

I haven't looked, but I haven't heard of an engine drain plug on any car. (at least any that I have had) I just raised the question of the freeze plug so that someone didn't just go and take it out, only to find that they couldn't put it back in. Usually what i do is just remove the lower radiator hose, jack up the back of the car, remove the top heater core hose, and use compressed air to remove coolant from the heater core.

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:43 am

Yeah I do similar to you... And what is Hurler trying to do that the radiator drain plug will not work?

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:48 am

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 plug is.I might do what you guys do (radiator hose) if finding the engine drain plug is too difficult. I've done all other 30,000 mile maintenance myself, so I don't want to take it into the dealer just for this one thing.

champcaracing · Post by **champcaracing** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:18 am

guys i am a toyota tech so i work on these engines every day. its not the freeze plugs. its a drain that you need a 10 mm wrench, socket, whatever both engines it might be hard to see, but they are there.

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:40 pm

Cool thanks, that settles it then!

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:44 pm

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...

champcaracing · Post by **champcaracing** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:27 am

yeah, i take a hose slip it on the end, break loose the 10mm bolt till coolant comes out

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:31 am

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

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:51 pm

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 size would I need?Thanks again!

champcaracing · Post by **champcaracing** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 5:15 am

sounds like your looking at the wrong drain, it's a white petcock, just turn it open.

vibe owner · Post by **vibe owner** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:02 pm

I didn't find a drain on my 2zz engine, but got the majority out through the radiator petcock (procedure is remove cap when cold, then warm up the engine 15 minutes and turn on the heater). Figure I can change 2/3 of the fluid every 20K, be as good as 100% every 30K? Awright, I'll look harder next time.

champcaracing · Post by **champcaracing** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:14 am

2zz engine drain is in front, above oil filter location, maybe not directly above but close.

hurler04 · Post by **hurler04** » Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:11 pm

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, though!One note: Even when you open the radiator petcock AND the engine drain plug, there is still about 25-30% of the fluid that doesn't come out, so keep that in mind when you're pouring in the right mixture.

03vibe · Post by **03vibe** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 1:23 am

I'm doing my maintenance. I can't find the engine drain plug. Can someone point in out (pics would be great)? how to get access to the engine drain plug?

mikey00 · Post by **mikey00** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:51 am

No picture but this may help.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=17662

Namron · Post by **Namron** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:06 am

ok I think I found the Engine Coolant Drain on my '03 GT, after an hour of looking. It's on the Firewall side of the engine 1/2 up. I opened it a little and had what I believe is my Coolant come out. Since the Vibe is new to me I double checked the radiator and the coolant is red. You'll need to use a 10 mm open end wrench, a socket won't fit over. When you back the bolt out fluid is released through the tube.I managed to get a picture too. It is hard enough to see, let along get a camera to get a good picture. Just for good measure, and anyone confirm this is the corrent Engine Coolant Drain?Namron

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cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Mon May 24, 2010 10:54 am

I know this is an old thread but no one has confirmed this. Going to do a coolant flush this weeked.

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Sat May 29, 2010 3:03 am

Never mind....I found it. You have to jack up the car & access it from underneath. Its on the firewall side as Namron said.This is for the 1ZZ engine.

bwalrave · Post by **bwalrave** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:19 pm

In case this helps, here's a pic from underneath the car, close to the passenger tire, looking up at the rear of the engine. The passenger wheel driveshaft is clearly visible, and the drain tube and bolt are labeled.I hope this helps someone...it took me quite some time to find it!Please pardon the picture...it's from a cell phone camera with a trouble light for lighting.

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Where is the engine coolant drain plug? Has anyone found it?

Where is the engine coolant drain plug? Has anyone found it?

Re: Where is the engine coolant drain plug? Has anyone found it? (hurler04)

Re: Where is the engine coolant drain plug? Has anyone found it? (agbhyde)

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