Draining the Radiator on a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu: A Step-by-Step Guide
Draining the radiator is necessary if you plan to swap out the radiator or refresh the coolant in a 2003 Chevy Malibu. The Malibu has a drain plug that makes this job possible to do in your own garage. Doing the work yourself can result in significant savings versus paying a shop. Make sure to dispose of the old coolant responsibly; many auto parts stores take used coolant for recycling at no cost.
By Cameron Davis6 steps
Maintaining your radiator at home is more cost effective than paying for a service center.
You will need to drain the coolant from the radiator if you are replacing the radiator in a Chevrolet Malibu or if you are changing the coolant in the cooling system. A drain plug is provided on the Malibu's radiator that allows you to perform the drain at home. Handling the radiator service yourself can lead to considerable savings compared to the cost of having a service center do the repair. It is important to dispose of the coolant in the proper manner. Many auto parts stores will accept containers of used coolant for recycling without charging a fee.
Step 1
Open the hood of your Malibu. Confirm that the engine is cool, then take off the radiator cap. When the engine is hot, the cooling system is under high pressure, so never attempt to remove the cap unless the engine has cooled down.
Step 2
Use a jack to lift the front of the vehicle, then place a set of jack stands under the car just behind the front tires. After the jack stands are in place and secure, take the jack away.
Step 3
Find the radiator drain plug, which is located on the driver side of the radiator near the bottom. This drain plug is a small white cylinder. Put a large drain pan under the radiator drain.
Step 4
Loosen the radiator drain plug by turning it counterclockwise one-quarter turn with your hand. The plug is designed so that it will not come all the way out of the radiator.
Step 5
Allow the radiator to drain fully. After the coolant has finished draining, retighten the drain plug by turning it clockwise one-quarter turn by hand.
Step 6
Lift the car a little with the jack and take out the jack stands. Bring the car back down to the ground. Add coolant to the radiator, put the radiator cap back on, and shut the hood before you drive the car.
