Hi all,

Going to attempt to install this bad boy in the Fiesta this weekend in order to regain heating in the cabin! (I've had to stop using the car it's so cold!).

From what I understand it is a very good idea to drain the coolant out first so that the pipes and valve aren't full of coolant when you take them off.

Is it enough to disconnect the bottom rad hose, empty coolant into a container etc and then flush through with a garden hose, or should I take the engine block drain plug out too?

Then to refill, pour in the coolant expansion tank and squeeze hoses to make sure there's no air locks?

I've found TK42138's channel on Youtube very helpful https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoxdxmHrbiFU2FXe6as-dKw as he has video'd most stages of the process but just want to make sure I'm aware of everything I need to be before I empty my system of coolant and get into any difficulties filling it back up again!

I can take pics of my process too if people would be interested in a visual step by step?

Cheers

Tom

 

No need to take the hose off. There is a drain plug at the bottom of the rad. I've done a few of these HCV's now they're very simple to do just unplug the wiring and back off the clips that hold the 4 pipes on then pull them off. Last couple I didn't bother draining the coolant but that does mean you get coolant all over the engine. It is best to drain it and won't do any harm to have a full change. Very simple to do just the hose clips can be a bit of a pain, don't know why ford didn't use normal jubilee clips. When refilling coolant pour in slowly then run the car for 15 minutes with heaters on full and the lid off the expansion tank that will bleed the system, it is worth giving all the hoses a squeeze just to be sure.

Thanks L666JER, will have a look for the drain plug on the rad and use that. 

I'm definitely going to flush the system as I had a look in the expansion tank and the liquid was a rusty brown, not red.. urgh! 

Just use a 2p piece to open the plug. Much easier than messing with hoses.

Just took the plug out and was greeting with a rusty splash and then nothing...   not exactly 5 litres worth here!

There must be a blockage somewhere? Should I resort to plan B and take the hoses off?

Yes

Did you take the cap off the header tank? That can stop it from flowing

You need to make sure the expansion tank lid is off

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Doh! Expansion tank lid was still on. Took it off and it started flowing properly!

Haha its similar to how a coffee cup works. Without the little pin hole in the top you wouldn't be able to drink from them

Right, coolant is drained  but now I am stuck getting the bulkhead cover off to get at the HCV. There are 3 plastic screws (WHY?!) which I've tried with a variety of screwdrivers and can't get them off. I managed to get one off by getting a pair of pliers underneath them and gripping the shaft but there's no room to manoeuvre pliers behind the others as they are right against the side of the car/blocked by engine components. Any tips?! 

Those screws are a pain. They need pressure on them from behind for them to unscrew I have found.

I brute forced one of them out and snapped a bit of the plastic cover but no biggie.. the other came out with a wrench holding the back of it to get grip and the third I gave up on but managed to hinge the bulkhead cover enough to get at the HCV.

The old valve is all off now, but one of the plastic pipe connectors on the old valve snapped off and is stuck in the hose! Gahhhhh!!! Any attempt to pull it out with pliers just brings out little chips of black plastic, the whole thing isn't strong enough to pull out this way..   

 

I saw a post on Honest John about changing HCVs that said it is 20 minutes work. I've been at this for over 3 hours now!! Grrr

Success!! Almost 7 hours of fiddling and we now have heat back in the cabin, plus lots of lovely fresh coolant and a new thermostat. Everything looks good so far, will take out for a test drive later and hope that goes well. Thanks everyone for your input.