Does anyone know how to bleed a coolant system on a 1999 Pontiac...

  • Thread starter Thread starter joshzbunny
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joshzbunny

...sunfire? I have a 1999 Pontiac sunfire, and I dont know where the coolant valve is...or what it even looks like...if someone could send me a pic of a coolant valve for my car...and some info on how to bleed my coolant valve...I would be ever so greatful...I cant drive my car because it keeps overheating...and my thermostat hand is going wild....it will go too a little over 100 then all the way at the top then back down again. So any info would be helpful on where my coolant valve is and what it looks like and how to do it...

~Thanks
I already put a brand new thermostat in the car yesterday. so I know its not that. I just need to bleed it. I just need to know how.
 
The drain-cock for the coolant is at the bottom of the radiator, drivers side, on the side toward the motor. Turn it counter clockwise and all the coolant will come flowing out. If you have a bad thermostat than once the coolant is empty. Go to the top of the motor and find the top hose from the radiator. Follow it to the engine and their should be a metal piece with two bolts. Take those bolts off and the thermostat is under there. Then put everything back on and fill radiator with half water and half coolant.
 
One way is to follow the top rad hose that will take you to the thermostat housing , plus there might be a small bleeder valve on the metal housing , if not you can get air out of the system by leaving the over flow or rad cap off.You'll see the coolant overflow when the engine runs a bit , plus the air will be coming out too.The bleeder valve will look like a grease fitting or almost like a air valve you might have on your bicycle.It will have a head on it that you can use a ranch or socket on , I suggest you use the ranch bec you can see the bubbles of air come out out better that way.Warm up the car first and then slowly open the bleeder just watch it and once you see coolant only coming out close it, then let the engine run some more and then try bleeding it more but don't have the over flow or rad cap off if you use the bleeder.

Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way I suggest you wear gloves and eye protection.
 
There are a few things this could be... the simplist is the gauge is wacked out. But to me,, it sounds like your themostat. You can get one for about 5 dollars at Autozone, AND they will show you where it goes and tell you how to put it in,,,, VERY Simple!!! most of the time it is located at the engine,,, just follow the radiator hose to the engine,,,and it should be there.
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Have you checked Autozone.com? They have a bunch of (free) do-it-yourself repair guides. You could always go to the library and check out a Chilton repair guide.

As for the pics, I don't have a Sunfire so I can't take any pics, but I'm sure you can find them online. Just do an image search.

Good luck, and be careful! The coolant system is very important, so if you're not too sure about what you're doing get some help.
 
the valve has to be on the bottom of the radiator to allow all of the coolant to flow out....it should be a simple open and shut valve.

check for any leaks in the radiator hoses or cracks on the radiator. Also replace all the stock radiator hose clamps. Stock clamps are weak and will begin to leak, and sometimes you won't even be able to tell.... if you have a leak, flushing the radiator will not do much help. Remember that a radiator needs to be completely pressurized to allow the coolant to increase it's boiling point.

allow your car to run for a little bit. Then feel the top radiator hose. If it's hot, it means your coolant is flowing properly. If it's cold, it means coolant isn't flowing. Check the water pump and the thermostat. The thermostat might not be opening up and allowing it to flow
 
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