Freeze Plug Broke Need advice - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

The Blizz24 · 09-30-2008, 02:55 PM

Hello everyone. im new to this site and my father told me that i should make an account here and that people would help me. so far it look pretty cool and i like it. I have a 88 camrey that has seen better days. Right now i have a freeze plus that has a leak in it and i was wondering if anyone knew how to go about fixing that or if i should go ahead and let the shop take care of it. . I know the power stearing has to come off and everything and i would never have had to deal with that but i am willing to learn. Please and thank you

***new echo owner*** · 09-30-2008, 03:21 PM

The first thing you need to do is get a manual for your car, otherwise, everyone can make suggestions, if you don't know what they are saying, it is not going to work.

How mechnically incline are you? And what kind of tools do you have? A freeze plug isn't a complicated job, but you do need the proper tools to do the work.

N.E.O.

***BLUEMEANIE*** · 09-30-2008, 03:23 PM

Is the plug leaking or did it physically break? ...big difference.

Welcome to TN.

The Blizz24 · 09-30-2008, 04:00 PM

it it leaking. i got home and took it to a shop and they told me that it had a leak

The Blizz24 · 09-30-2008, 04:03 PM

well im just starting out. i have done a little work with the car. i had a hose that had a hole in it and i have replaced the thermostat, but i really havnt had any problems with the car until now. i got a standard lil tool kit that has your sockets in american and metric sizes. But my dad is the real mechanic but i dont mind learning how to fix it.

***new echo owner*** · 09-30-2008, 06:40 PM

To remove the freeze plug is the easy part, just knock a hole in it and pry it out, of course after you had drain the coolant. Installing it will be a little different, having an installer would definitely make the job a lot easier. If your dad is a mechanic, maybe he will have the properly tool to install the new one. Usually, you just knock the old one out, clean out the hole, put some sealer n the new plug and hammer it back in with an installer.

Not sure which one you are replacing, so can't exactly tell you any more than that. Which freeze plug is leaking? How does the coolant look, rusty?

N.E.O.

Rick89GTS · 10-04-2008, 03:06 PM

Is it a front freeze plug or one on the backside of the motor? If it's easily accessible, have dad assist you with it to get it seated right without leaking.

If it's hard to reach, a good option is to replace it with a compression plug.
Basically it screws or bolts in a neoprene rubber plug and sandwiches it between two steel plates to seal the hole. See pic.