Car drivable without coolant air-bleed screw??
 

Like an idiot, I dropped and lost the damn air-bleed screw when i was bleeding the air out..... can i drive without it, or will i lose my coolant? Maybe if i temporarily taped it closed til i get another? Any ideas?

Thanks,

Matt

The radiator is pressurized along with the rest of the cooling system. You will loose your coolant and the car will overheat without it. You are going to need to find that plug. I don't think anything else will plug that offhand. Anyone ever plug that with something other than the plug?

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Yup, "Like an idiot" I tightened my air bleeder screw too tight and the screw broke off (w/ the threads still in the air bleeder hole). I tried to find a leftover bolt w/ the same thread pattern, and all I could find was my old shifter!!! I drove around for a while with my shifter sticking out of the air bleeder hole until I gathered enoguh motivation to fix it :eek: . I took the shifter to work (advanced auto) and matched the thread pattern w/ a bolt/nut set. Took it home and took a hacksaw to the bolt until it was the desired size. I coated the bolt w/ rubber sealant, tightened it and let it set over night. Works perfectly, although I can't bleed the system from there anymore! You have to depressurize the system by taking off the radiator cap, and then squeeze the upper radiator hose when adding coolant. I believe the thread pattern on the bolt is 12 X 1.5.

-Brian

I just changed my buddies coolant on his 7 ( before he sold it for an integ), and we started it up without the air bleeder screw in it and it sprayed everywhere....I think you'll need it.

Just buy a new one. Seems like dealer charged me $7 for it.

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Dealer wanted $9.50 for mine! I got the bolt at work for like $1... that's the only reason. Not to mention I'm upgrading my radiator anyways. If you got the money buy one from the dealer. I'm replacing my radiator anyways, so I don't care about the stock one too much!

-Brian

Re: ...
 

HAHAHAHA That is totally classic. Just the vision in my head was funnier than hell!

I used an alligator clip for an e-clip on my wastegate actuator arm once :)

it's a standard metric thread, 12X1.25 i believe, you should be able to find a short bolt and rubber o-ring at a parts store as a temporary makeshift.

if it's larger than i thought and a 14mm, then some oil drain plugs might suffice.

check the help section of your local auto parts stores too, sometimes you can find radiator petcocks, which is basically what this is also.

If I am correct the drain plug is the same size as the Bleeder.

the radiator drain plug is, yes, they're identical.