Argghhh! Air bleeder plug stripped
 

Just as the title says.. I replaced the upper rad hose and when I go to fill the coolant, I attempt to remove the plug only to find that I cant stick a screwdriver in there! There is barely enough material left on the plug for the screwdriver to turn it without stripping it. So what I ask is this:

Can I bleed air from the system without removing the plug?

Is there some type of tool that will allow me to remove the plug since I cant get a screw driver in there?

Am I just totally screwed?

why dont you just use the radiator caps to fill the coolant and let it work the air bubbles out?

Because of the big caution sticker on my radiator. Wont the air bubbles just work their way out of the overflow tank naturally? Course ill need to carry extra coolant with me for that.

When the car is cold start it with the radiator cap off and gently squeeze the radiator hoses to help stubborn bubbles out, then top off. Make sure to have your heater set on hot and fully open as well.

easy outs and a drill

Or just stick a sharp knife in it and unscrew it.

You could also get a sharp, small chisel..and tap it with a hammer to get it to dig into the plastic screw, then unscrew it.

Just go to the junkyard and get another screw.

the same thing happened to me but i just used a flat head screwdriver put it into the plug at an angle and tapped it with a hammer going counter clockwise to get the plug out worked really well and only took a couple minutes to get the plug out. a new plug from mazda is like $12 which is rediculous so i definately try the junkyard route to get it cheaper.

Get a big flathead screwdriver...heat the tip up with a lighter.
Insert tip so it melts plastic.
Blow on tip so it cools quicker.
Remove screwdriver tip for about 10 minutes to let plastic cool more.
Reinsert screwdriver tip and extract plug.


-Ted

Such an "outside of the box" thinker.

I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts. Always have good ideas. :bigthumb:

On my last fc it was near fully stripped, i just got the biggest screwdriver i could fine and i put that sucker in there tight and i got it to go in just nicely and it starts creating its own groove. you could always dish out the 10 bucks or so and buy new ones at mazdatrix.

-Andrew

Just to let everyone know. The thread of the that bolt is M12x1.25. I couldn't see waiting for 2 days, and paying 12 bucks for Mazda to get one in for me, so I made my own. You should be able to go to any auto parts store with a bolt bin, or any local hardware store (I went to Lowes). The bolt cost me 3.25! ouch! but it works awesome, and it only took a dremel, and I used a bench grinder for the outside. put on the original o-ring, and it works beautifuly.

http://www.killermonks.com/wonko/bolt.jpg

wouldn't a impact screwdriver work?

nevermind at least at the beginning.

That's cool and all but the reason they make it out of plastic is so that the plug threads will strip before the threads in the radiator do.

Well then I suggest that you don't strip it! ;)


j/k man....


Nicely done Wonko....I see you even painted it with the same paint as your car, huh?