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?
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
------------------ "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
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)
I've experienced this problem and used a Stillson Pipe Wrench to get the cap off. A bit of silicone grease on the mounting surface made it easier to put the cap back. At times some owners have not fully seated the thermostat before putting the cap on. They force it on and when you try to take it off the jam makes it difficult.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I forget if it's a brand thing or a generational thing, but some of the thermostat caps have a seal that does not spin independently of the cap. Those caps are awful as it's very difficult to open or close these caps when the rubber seal is forced to rotate/rub on the top of the thermostat housing. On the good caps, where the rubber seal spins independently of the cap... the seal can stay put on the housing as the cap is turned and tightened (or loosened).
