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| Stuck coolant cap (Page 1/2) |
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Nightbeat
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SEP 11, 08:42 PM
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I have a 87 4 cylinder value leader that has a stuck coolant cap. I tried turning the thing counter clockwise like the Haynes manual says(don’t trust the owners manual) but it won’t budge and I’m afraid of breaking something. It’s not an immediate problem but my coolant is either due for a flushing or a good top off and I know trying to just add to the reservoir ends badly from personal experience. Is there a special method or tool I should use to unstick the coolant cap?
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Blacktree
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SEP 11, 08:55 PM
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A strap wrench or an oil filter wrench should do the trick. Lefty loosey, righty tighty.
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Mike in Sydney
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SEP 11, 09:06 PM
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Are you pushing down on the cap? On mine you have to push down and turn (kinda like a child-proof cap) to free the locking tabs. ------------------
Mike in Sydney
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Nightbeat
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SEP 11, 09:19 PM
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I’ve tried pushing down and just trying to turn it. Probably a oil filter wrench will work I hope.
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Spoon
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SEP 11, 09:32 PM
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Try both hands at same time, one on top of the other while pushing down. I had same problem with 2.8. Once I got it off I smeared a little grease on the lip of radiator to make it slide easier.
Spoon
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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
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Patrick
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SEP 11, 09:44 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Nightbeat:
I have a 87 4 cylinder value leader that has a stuck coolant cap.
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What exactly is a coolant cap? Are you referring to the cap on the thermostat housing, or the radiator cap?
In either case, if you turn it counter-clockwise enough, that sucker's coming off.
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olejoedad
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SEP 12, 08:07 AM
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Big channel-locks for the win.
Monitor your coolant expansion tank and keep the coolant topped off by adding coolant there.[This message has been edited by olejoedad (edited 09-12-2019).]
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AsaBergman
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SEP 12, 08:58 AM
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My thermostat cap gets stuck often, I use a screwdriver on the tabs to tap it loose.
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hnthomps
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SEP 12, 09:51 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by olejoedad:
Big channel-locks for the win.
Monitor your coolant expansion tank and keep the coolant topped off by adding coolant there.
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I keep 12" channel locks in my tool kit for exactly that purpose and have needed to use them a couple of times.
Nelson
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theogre
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SEP 12, 12:22 PM
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T-stat cover get stuck easy even w/ Stant or GM caps.
Store brand caps are mostly made one third party company called MotoRad and often have several problems for T stat cap. To ID: Store brands has same PN as MotoRad PN. = 17032 7032 or T32
So Always Stant or GM/ACDelco T stant caps. (Stant makes/made most GM and Ford caps for US made vehicles. Gates caps is Stant.)
Small strap wrench is better to remove stuck T-stat cap. "Water pump" pliers may work but often damage the cap raising sharp points/edges to hurt you later w/o warning.
But note that Radiator and Tstant needs push down then turn. If you fail to push down then you can break things. More so w/ rad cap.
when installing T stat cap. Coat the metal on T stat housing w/ brake or silicon grease, top and sides where cap covers, to stop this happening again.
Most times Anti-seize goo doesn't work here.
MotoRad is Bad?
No but have problems for T-stat cap.
I think the rubber is too thick and a bit too big diameter to fit some to all Fiero.
At lest 3 different T-stat housing for Fiero... 84-86 L4, 87 and up L4, and V6 and might fit some but not 87+ L4.------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)
The Ogre's Fiero Cave
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