2001 Cavalier drain plug

[carnewbiee]

I have to change my thermostat (troubleshooting overheating), but I can't find the coolant drain plug? I have looked in the front of the radiator, behind... can't find it!

Can anyone tell me the exact location or what it looks like on a 2001 Chevy Cavalier?

[J-Ri]

Should be on the radiator, on one of the side tanks. It's easier to just pull off the lower hose. Sometimes the drain valve will leak once opened, because of that, I've never opened one.

[carnewbiee]

I think I spotted a small dime size plastic hex nut at the bottom front driver side of radiator. But I am not sure if that is it.

How do I identify lower hose?

[J-Ri]

It's the one that's on the bottom of the radiator, passenger side on both engine options if I remember correctly. And just to clarify, all you need to do is remove whichever side is easier to do (probably radiator side). The reason they give that as the first step is that it makes it possible to contain almost 100% of the coolant for recycling. You'll most likely spill a bit doing it this way, but not much. And it's much "safer".

That plastic nut you found sounds like that's probably it, but I'd leave it alone. If it breaks or the threads pull out, you'll need a new radiator.

[carnewbiee]

thanks for your help... i didn't get to your post early enough and pulled that nut off... it was the drain valve.

i tried to get the bolts around the thermostat outlet without removing the lower radiator hose, and its almost impossible.

So I think I need to get channel lock to remove the hose clamp, and then try to remove those nuts. They are really rusted too!