I attempted to change the coolant in my 05 Stratus this morning. I found the radiator drain plug and can turn it 1/4 turn, but no fluid flows. I thought it best to ask before I got I physical with it and damaged it. Does the center pull out after turning it or is there a drain hole, tough to see, that needs clearing?

 

Are you sure you are on the drain plug. The drain plug usually has the be removed.

 

NO NO NO NO DO NOT REMOVE THE PLUG!!! I made that mistake and it turned a relatively simple job into a HUUUGE pain. The plug is made so that it only has to be turned to the point where you see coolant pouring out and NO MORE. Here's the problems/solutions I had, hopefully it helps:

-The "Left" side of the radiator. I am a backyard mechanic, so I don't know technical terms, and i didn't know what they meant by the 'left' side of the radiator. I made the mistake of ***-uming that it was the left side as I was looking toward the front of the car. Wrong. The plug is on the bottom DRIVER SIDE of the radiator, facing the back of the car

-Unscrewing the plug. Think of the plug like a prescription bottle. It's not threaded like a screw. You have to pull whilst turning, and you only have to turn about 1/4 - 1/2 a turn once it catches.

And finally, remember that it's plastic. If you do manage to pull the plug completely out (Or to the point where you turn and turn and turn and turn and it never seals shut) Then you probably destroyed it, and you need to buy a new one. No big deal. About three dollars new.

 

My car has about 73,000 miles on it and I decided to do a cooling system flush/clean/refill. I bought Prestone antifreeze and radiator cleaner, and went to go figure out how to drain the system.

I found a flat plug on the bottom of the passenger's side of the radiator, protruding backwards. I turned it a quarter turn (I was able to access this through a hole in the bottom of the front trim piece, but nothing happened. I was unable to get a wrench or pliers on it to turn it more, so I wound up pulling the entire front trim piece off so I could get a better grip on it.

Taking off the front trim piece (it covers the bumper and contains the grill and license plate) was pretty easy; a bunch of black plastic fasteners and 6 small screws and it pulled right off, giving access to the hoses and cooling fan fasteners and such as well as to what I presume is the stopcock.

Turns out it's only designed to turn a quarter turn. I did not break it, but turning it back and forth has failed to produce a flow of coolant from anyplace.

There is no piece on the driver's side that I could see that would do anything like drain the radiator.

I have the 2.7L V-6 Flex-Fuel.

Also, I need more of the black plastic fasteners. *sheepish grin*.

 

was never able to get mine drained by plug,just took off hose and drained that way, here is instructions to drain
COOLING SYSTEM - DRAINING
When servicing the cooling system, it is essential that coolant does not drip onto the accessory drive belts and/or pulleys. Shield the belts with shop towels before working on the cooling system. If coolant contacts the belts or pulleys, flush both with clean water.

WARNING: MAKE SURE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM IS COOL BEFORE SERVICING. DO NOT REMOVE ANY CLAMPS OR HOSES, PRESSURE CAP, OR OPEN THE RADIATOR DRAINCOCK. WHEN THE SYSTEM IS HOT AND UNDER PRESSURE SERIOUS BURNS FROM COOLANT CAN OCCUR.

1. Position a clean collecting container under draincock location.
2. Open radiator draincock located at the lower right side of radiator. Turn draincock counterclockwise until it stops.
3. Remove coolant pressure cap and open cooling system bleed valve.
4. Raise vehicle on hoist.
5. 2.7L: Remove heater hose at heater tube located at the right front inner frame rail and direct coolant flow into container

 

So my stopcock doesn't do anything? Hmph.

I was hoping to get away with not pulling a hose off... I'm afraid I'll somehow break the plastic fitting off. But if I've got to, I've go to!