[Bart]

Has anyone had a problem with the bleeder valve for the cooling system? My car is in the shop for a tune-up/misc work and I need a new assembly for that which is $95. What happens is the metal fitting that the valve screws in sits in a plastic mold that ends up stripping and leaks antifreeze slowly, but as time progresses, it eventually blows off, spewing antifreeze everywhere. Apparently, this happens a lot yet there is no recall for it. I'm hoping many people have had this problem so we can get something going here in terms of a recall so I don't have to pay $95 for a stupid plastic piece with a simple valve in it. Because of this $95, I now have to wait to get new tires for my car.

 

[DMAG]

I can see that it may have leaked little, because it has a little orange crud on it. But it hasn't blown it's top yet. <crossing my fingers>

 

[Bart]

It's not suppose to leak at all. Get a wrench and tighten it. If it slips then it's stripped. If enough of us complain, maybe even a class action suit going, all of us can get it replaced for free. It's rediculous that it costs $95 just for the stupid part. A whole damn microwave oven doesn't even cost that much.

 

[hug311]

mine leaked but it was under warentee and i had it replaced.

 

[Barnz]

Mine is leaking, I have to check to see if it is still under warranty, I have a few other things that $95 can go to...

 

[Bart]

be prepared to spend more than $95 if it's not under warranty. It's not a do-it-yourselfer type of job... unless, of course, you are a mechanic yourself. It involves partially taking off the intake plenum and a really nice set of tools that allows you te get into tight spots. Also a lot of maneuvering, partially draning the cooling system... etc, etc, etc. And we all know labor can cost a lot more than the part itself. Luckily, the replacement parts were redesigned to not leak anymore... but if I have to replace this again, I'm not coughing up the money, Dodge is.

 

[BC42875]

My car was out of warrenty when I noticed the problem but I do have a cheap fix. About 69 cents to be exact. Buy a hose clamp and stretch it around the fitting housing and tighten it up good. It's solved the problem for me. Just a suggestion.

Brad

 

[Bart]

Mine was leaking at the base where the metal fitting meets the plastic mold. Either way, too late now cause I already had it replaced. I with I would have at least tried that before just in case that would have worked for my car

 

[IntrepidDude]

My car was out of warrenty when I noticed the problem but I do have a cheap fix. About 69 cents to be exact. Buy a hose clamp and stretch it around the fitting housing and tighten it up good. It's solved the problem for me. Just a suggestion.

Brad

Great suggestion. $0.69 solution worked for me too and I was about to replace the housing. I love DI.NET

 

[creepingdeath]

can anyone post a pic of said bleeder valve? I think I know of this but not sure.

 

[MikeW]

The whole platic assembly for the 2.7 only costs $47 bucks from the chrysler dealer, and $60 from the Dodge (stealership)

The removal isn't a DIY job, because the intake manifold must be removed (you can get to only 3 of the 4 bolts) to get the last bolt.

I had to limp the car home from work a couple of weeks ago, when it was about to blow its top, you see coolant steam coming from the leading edge of the hood, and also some from the vent by the wiper. So to prevent the cap from flying off, I ran the car with the cooling system cap off (unpressurized). But before you go, make sure you have enough coolant in the system so that the heater core can now be your radiator. Keep handy a 3/8 wrench, so that you can remove the air from the coolant system by blowing coolant (stick your mouth over the cooland resevoir lid and cover the air hole with your right hand, and use you left hand to close the bleeder valve when cooland comes out) now the coolant system is air-free.

Drive slow, keep the heat on, crack the window open so you don't overheat. Good luck.