Ok could not find an faq on doing this so here goes. heres the back ground cars been over heating relay fans not kicking in.

#1 Prestones back flow adapter fitting.

1 , Throw some cooling system flush in there, ( i ran my car for a day with it) don't forget to turn heater on to high and operate the heater. Gets all the rust and calcium and sediments out of the cooling system.

2, Drain radiator when cold, take overflow tank cap off....drain plug is at the front right hand side of the radiator ( twist it to the left and it pulls out)....drain cooling fluid in tub and dispose of safely.

3, Here,s the hard part. to fit the back flush adapter theres some dismantling to do, but it makes life a lot easier. First disconect spark plug wires(make sure you number them. remove coils all three of them (use 5.5 mm sockect one bolt at the top and one at the bottom. remove the blanking plate (13 mm bots) and ignition control module...I did a spark plug wire and spark plug tune up...why not? i am already there. Once this is all done. It opens up plenty of space to get to the heater core disconnects .

4, Undo the top one pinch plastic tabs and it will pop off. Now the one we want is on the bottom one or hose, the one that goes to the thermostat housing. Get the 5/8 adapter from the Prestones flush kit...use a razor to cut the lower pipe cleanly, insert the adapter into the hose with the hose clamps tighten them up.

5, Reconnect the top heater core hose to the disconnect.

6, Resemble everything...reversal of removal.

#2 Thermostat installation

1, Remove air cleaner box, and flex adapter( use 10mm socket)

2, Gives us plenty of space (if you have big hands like me). Next use a 13mm socket to remove the top thermostat housing bolt...its easy to get at. Now the hard part the bottom one is blocked by the cross over pipe..it can be done but takes a long time. Get a 13mm wrench at the bolt from the bottom... crack it and use your fingers to remove it.

3, Remove housing from the top, dispose of old thermostat, get a brillo pad any old one will do and clean the thermostat housing block...install new thermostat 195 degrees.

4 Reassemble everything.

#3 Thermostat switch

1, Perhaps the easiest thing to do on this engine 13mm deep socket, install new one, its located, one the thermostat housing, connect plug back on top of the new one.

#4 Actual flush

1,Make sure the heater control in on and the fan set to high on the interior control panel, make sure you disconnect top radiator hose from the thermostat housing and took it in on front of the fans so the water can drain away.

2, Connect garden hose to back flush adapter on heater core hose, turn on the water and wait for it to run clear that way the whole system will be flushed clean.

3, When it comes out clear, turn off the water and let it drain from the radiator

4, Disconnect the hose pipe and put the cap on the black flush adapter, on the lower heater hose, reconnect he upper radiator hose.

5, Get your Dex cool and mix 50/50 with water. Also i alway use leak sealer mixed in and fill the system.

6, Run the engine, make sure the heater is on in the car, and open the air bleed on the black pipe that goes to the water pump, you will hear air hissing out of the system. This is big...because we want to get any air pockets out of the cooling system.

7, Turn off the engine, let it cool down and check the overflow tank for the correct level of cooling fluid and adjust as necessary to the cold mark on the tank.

DONE

For the more technically inclined the middle mark on the temp gauge on the car is 195 degrees or there about... the next big notch is 230 degrees on the gauge...your low speed cooling fans should kick in about 206 Degrees and high speed cooling fans should kick in at 228 230 Degrees.

If they don't kick in.... check you electrical connectors.( The major culprit is the thermostat sensor. usually.)

I hope this helps some one out there, been working on cars for 20 years now, not the easiest one i have done.

 

I have the Prestone Flush Kit, but I don't know where to connect (snap) the Splash Deflector Tube since my 2003 Malibu doesn't have a radiator cap. Any suggestions???