Cooling System Filling & Bleeding
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Mercury Villager. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Ensure engine air relief plug is removed. See Figure. Fill cooling system with 50/50 mixture of coolant and water to radiator filler neck. Gently move upper radiator hose up and down while filling to remove trapped air. Insert a .079" (2 mm) wire under negative pressure valve of radiator cap. See Fig 1. Install radiator cap. Disconnect expansion tank tube from radiator. Hang a modified one gallon bottle filled with 50/50 mixture of coolant and water. See Fig 2. Connect and clamp a hose from modified bottle to expansion tank tube connection at radiator.
- Unclamp modified bottle hose. Allow coolant to flow until coolant comes out of engine air relief plug. Clamp modified bottle hose. Install engine air relief plug. Raise front of vehicle about 22" (55.8 cm) and support with stands. Turn heater controls to maximum and set air discharge to instrument panel vents. Turn blower to high. Unclamp modified bottle hose.
- Start engine and raise engine speed to 1500 RPM until cooling fan turns on. Turn ignition off and allow engine to completely cool off. Clamp modified bottle hose. Remove modified one gallon bottle and reconnect expansion tank tube to radiator. Remove radiator cap and remove wire from under negative pressure valve of radiator cap. Fill cooling system with 50/50 mixture of coolant and water to radiator filler neck. Fill expansion tank to MAX mark. Install radiator cap.