has anyone got a pic of

[nigel129]

Hi, has anyone got a pic of this dammed elusive rad drain plug. Having searched for info , most links ive found no seem to be non existant.
Ive got the bash panel off that covers the air con rad, but i cant even see the bottom hose, ler alone a drain plug.
Can anybody give me a road map for the plug, as last two attempts to clear any gunk has been done through the hoses, so i thought, easy enough drop the coolant (none in since mid pipe ble off last week) via the drain plug, GREAT if you can find it !!
thanks
nigel

[Albannach]

IIRC, it's above the condenser too.

[BUSHWHACKER]

If it's the original Toyota rad then the drain cock (old school) is on the passenger side facing the engine, it looks like a wing nut but white plastic instead of steel.

If it's a non OEM replacement rad from Roughtrax for example, it won't have a drain plug so you'll need to pop the bottom hose off to drain it.

[DMAudio]

Just took mine out the other day and the way to navigate your arm to it is;

Take of the bash panel. Whilst looking under the NSF wheel arch, it sits just above the condenser. You should see a little flappy bit of rubber that stops mud from the arch finding its way on top of the condensor. If you move that to one side you should see the little plastic 'tap' on the bottom of the rad. Best way I found is put your arm up through the gap where the condenser fan is, and reach forward with some normal pliers.

Will add a photo later if you're still stuck.

[nigel129]

Just took mine out the other day and the way to navigate your arm to it is;

Take of the bash panel. Whilst looking under the NSF wheel arch, it sits just above the condenser. You should see a little flappy bit of rubber that stops mud from the arch finding its way on top of the condensor. If you move that to one side you should see the little plastic 'tap' on the bottom of the rad. Best way I found is put your arm up through the gap where the condenser fan is, and reach forward with some normal pliers.

Will add a photo later if you're still stuck.

Thanks DM, a pic would be handy, pulled a piece of a thin piece of rubber off (dam plastic plug/popper type thing disintegrated) Couldnt see anything as you describe so far, HOWEVER, a Bush says above it might not be a Toyota rad, in which case ill need to find the bottom hose, which has also eluded me.
look forward to your pic if you have time.
thanks
nigel

[Albannach]

If you can't see the hose, you are looking in the wrong place!

Have you tried looking from above?

[nigel129]

If you can't see the hose, you are looking in the wrong place!

Have you tried looking from above?

From the top ,the bottom, diagonally with a small mirror, but its the drain plug (if theres one there) id like to find. Is there anyway to identify wether its an original yota rad or a substitute, that way i can concentrate on the bottom pipe. BUT if its as awkwark as the middle pipe, god help me. Even the AA man had a hell of a job getting that back on. Can i change the dam clip for a nice jubille clip?

[Albannach]

Unbolt the condenser and have a look above it. If your air conditioning doesn't work, unbolt it and throw it away, if it does work, unbolt it and gently move it out of the way.

[BUSHWHACKER]

I'm not going to say any more as it'll all end in tears.

[Albannach]

I think so too...

[nigel129]

Unbolt the condenser and have a look above it. If your air conditioning doesn't work, unbolt it and throw it away, if it does work, unbolt it and gently move it out of the way.

I was contemplating that, no good to me surf costs enough to run without air con, BUT is it as simple as just unbolting, surely there must be somthing to block off agter taking it off ??
And what does a condenser look like ???
ta
nig

[nigel129]

I'm not going to say any more as it'll all end in tears.

Ill supply the Kleenex if itll get this obviously simple job done, For a Surf expert
Hope you lot can perceiver
nigel

[TonyN]

An original rad will have foam sponge stuff sealing all the gaps between the rad and the body work, especially along the top.

Only the last couple of years R/T rads have no drain taps, older ones do.

Its not hard, on the passenger side of the bottom tank. Like Albannach said, if you can't find it after all the above posts you're probably not going to. Don't take this personally, but if you can't even find the bottom rad hose you're probably best getting someone to do it for you.



On the rad on the left, from the left hand side, is..

Drain tap, AFT cooler in, Rad hose, AFT cooler out. Its a 3.0 rad, 2.4 ones are shorter but similar layout.

[nigel129]

An original rad will have foam sponge stuff sealing all the gaps between the rad and the body work, especially along the top.

Only the last couple of years R/T rads have no drain taps, older ones do.

Its not hard, on the passenger side of the bottom tank. Like Albannach said, if you can't find it after all the above posts you're probably not going to. Don't take this personally, but if you can't even find the bottom rad hose you're probably best getting someone to do it for you.



On the rad on the left, from the left hand side, is..

Drain tap, AFT cooler in, Rad hose, AFT cooler out. Its a 3.0 rad, 2.4 ones are shorter but similar layout.

Ahhh i think i see, correct me if im wrong but the face of the rads in the pics would actually be facing the engine, putting the drain plug on the passenger side ? but ive been looking for a drain at the base of the rad, NOT as seen here on the rear face near the botton
And theres no sign of foam, unless removed previously. Think ill post a pic tomorrow.
nigel

[Sancho]

the drain cock (old school) is on the passenger side facing the engine

Ahhh i think i see, correct me if im wrong but the face of the rads in the pics would actually be facing the engine, putting the drain plug on the passenger side ? but ive been looking for a drain at the base of the rad, NOT as seen here on the rear face near the bottom

Do keep up....

As for the bottom hose, if you need to go that way, I am seriously not being facetious by saying it's the big hose that comes out of the bottom of the radiator.