Coolant Change

[bobzinger]

Hey BD (and All)

I just looked at Gadgets page on changing coolant...whoa! Pull the tank?

Isn't there an easier way to drain and replace the coolant?

[macmac]

Nope..

remove the seats the speedo and then the tank. The hardest part is the fuel line. It has gray a plastic fitting, or maybe it is off white. There are 2 pad like clips, which are a little hard to see, but press them in and peel the line off.

There are a few more lines to pull as well, but with "Right Angel" needled nose pliers it isn't hard to get done.

Use lots of rags and a wooden hunk of short 2x4 to get clearance.

[nomad1600]

How often should you change the coolant?

[macmac]

Each 2 years... So if you have a 06, it is time....

Every 2 years you should change it.

If you're not going to change the thermostat (and in theory that too should be changed every couple years) you don't have to remove the tank completely. Just unbolt it and tie the front up to a rafter overhead so you can get a flexi-funnel into the filler hole.

My thermostat is nearly 5 years old & seems to be fine, but I will change it at the next coolant change in about 1 year.

[blowndodge]

Just did it 2 weeks ago. No need to pull the tank per macmac

[VulcanE]

I changed mine a month ago, and didn't have to remove the speedo, just the nancil around the speedo, to where you can un plug the two pig tails. After you remove your tank the first time it will only take you about 15 minutes after that. On the 1600 non- California, you have 2 vent hoses under right side of tank, one in front, and one in back. on the left side you have the fuel quick disconnect, then two plugs on top of the battery to unplug (goes to fuel gauge and pump) then just slide it off. Oh Yeh, ride it to your low fuel light comes on, It'll make it a whole lot easier.

[bobzinger]

Please tell BD!

I thought maybe just pulling bottom plug then pressurizing the overflow tank would push it all out, then just refill thru overfill tank.

[blowndodge]

I didn't remove the tank. took the two rear tank bolts off and the chrome speedo housing and used a 4 inch block of wood to raise the rear. Unhooked nothing.

I tried the wood block once, but find access to the filler much easier using the rope method.

[macmac]

That right? Hmmm.. My hands are not what they were from over use. I don't find it all that hard to pull the tank either.

The opening where the speedo is, seems a tad small to me. But if you can do it that way, I stand corrected.

My 06 will be getting all the Spring rights here, pretty soon.

Tires, coolant , rear swing arm service, and etc. One or more 12 dcv take off's, A hoppy and hitch.

That means wiring, which means the tank must come off.

Sorry for the incorrect info.

Don't Stress.

The dealer would take it off.

It's in the book that way.

I don't go by the book unless it makes sense.

[blowndodge]

which is not often in the good book!!!

If you mean the Nomad manual, I refer to that as the "Rough guidelines for repairing a Nomad."

OK, it's not the worst manual I've used, but there are mistakes, and lots of shortcuts they don't tell you.

And I know some of the torque values quoted as ft-lbs should actually be in in-lbs. (I wish I could recall which off the top of my head, but I can't.)

[ponch]

My biotch about the manual is that the wiring diagram is black and white. The one for my GPz was color. It's a good starting point though, and the more you work on a vehicle, or anything else, you will discover better ways of doing things.

Originally Posted by caddmannq

If you mean the Nomad manual, I refer to that as the "Rough guidelines for repairing a Nomad."

OK, it's not the worst manual I've used, but there are mistakes, and lots of shortcuts they don't tell you.

And I know some of the torque values quoted as ft-lbs should actually be in in-lbs. (I wish I could recall which off the top of my head, but I can't.)