97 grand am drain plug

I have a 97 grand am and it is leaking from the drain plug I got a new plug but after a few hours i still can't get the old one out.

PLEASE HELP!!!

I have a 97 grand am and it is leaking from the drain plug I got a new plug but after a few hours i still can't get the old one out.

PLEASE HELP!!!

I also have 97 GA w/ 2.4L. Coolant leaks issue. Have 3 questions.

Where is that drain plug on 2.4L?

Does original Heater core have the plastic pipes through firewall? Mine split at core. Is there something better.

Replacement core I bought hase aluminum pipes to core that swivel. It leaked after several days use. What else is on market?

What I beleive to be the radiator petcock only turns 1/4 ccw. Is plastic and like wing nut. Does not drain. Afraid may break off. Should I force more? Or is ther better way.

Chili, if you bought a plug for it, it must come out then. Just try turning it back and fourth several times, it 'probley' has calcium and road grime build up and it's stuck in the threads not letting it come out I usually break them my self.

Welcome to the world of plastic vibes43. I usually drain the radiator from the bottom radiator hose. Does you radiator have a cap on it? Alot of new radiators dont have one and is a pain to fill. The heater hose thing varyies from place to place of manufacturers and climate your car lives in now. I would try to return exchange the new leaking one though. Could've gotten the wrong one by mistake. Welcome to Automotive Forums :)

To get the drain plug out, keep turning it, if it sticks wiggle it a little, when it feels like its not going anywhere, pull it straight out it does come out, it sticks again when it hits the o-ring, but it does come out.

As for the heater core, factory cores had plastic pipes they tend to split on the bends. The aftermarket one I bought from Autozone has aluminum piping and no swivels, considering what a joy it was to change I would have refused one with swivels.

Thanks skibum. I want to be sure I understand before I go pulling on things. As I understand, the drain plug we are discussing is on the radiator at bottom under hose. It looks like a plastic wing screw. It only will turn 1/4 of revolution and sort of clicks back-and-forth within that 1/4 turn. Actually it is a plug with an O'Ring. After I turn it 1/4 turn ccw I can then pull it straight out. Do I have it right?

It's understandible how some of us old-timers that are used to the "conventional" petcocks would just keep cranking on that wing until something breaks. Glad I came here and asked and thanks for your help.

btw, I was wrong about my new heater core leaking. When I pushed the new core drain nipple through the firewall, the drain nipple pushed the rubber weatherstriping out and the weatherstripping actually dammed up the drain. When my wife drove with A/C on, condensation built up in the drain tray. The dam broke in my garage and mixed with the dried up antifreeze already on the floor etc. After pushing the weatherstrip back in place i've had no more issues.

It's understandible how some of us old-timers that are used to the "conventional" petcocks would just keep cranking on that wing until something breaks.


LMAO! it's not the cranking that breaks them for me, it's the pulling it out part. the pliers just keep nib-lin away at the wing when they're stuck. LOL! engineers truly never work on cars or we wouldnt have all these little issues. :)

LMAO! it's not the cranking that breaks them for me, it's the pulling it out part. the pliers just keep nib-lin away at the wing when they're stuck. LOL! engineers truly never work on cars or we wouldnt have all these little issues. :)

Well then xeroinfinity, I will give it a reasonable effort to pull the plug out. If it gets to the point that there's not much left of the wing, I will try to turn it back in place and go to plan b -- draining from the hose. With all that calcium and stuff in there it may not make a good seal anyway after reinserting.

Thanks for all the help.