[hurler04]

Could someone tell me exactly where the engine block coolant drain plug is on a 2003-2004 Corolla is? Has anyone ever accessed it while they were changing their coolant? The service manual is not of any help, as they show the plug in a general place in the front of the engine.

Thanks!

 

[knuckleduster]

on the older corollas they were on the block next to the oil filter. right below the #1 cylinder.

 

[dougone]

The oil filter is in a different place on the 1zz-fe. Does anyone know where the drain plug actually is?

 

[ski46]

Actually, since I posted my note asking where the drain is, I happened to stop by my local Toyota dealer and one of the techs told me that the drain is accessible from under the car and it is located under the exhaust manifold on the rear of the engine. I took a look and I think I see it, although I'm not 100% sure. Since I didn't know where it was a couple of weeks ago and I needed to change the coolant, what I did was drain and refill the system with plain water 4 times and on the last draining it drained out clear. Then I installed the new coolant!

 

[dougone]

I hope you had the heater on the hot position!

 

[ski46]

Yes, I did put the heater controls on hot, as per the procedure in the Service Manual!

 

[dougone]

Where the heck did you get a service manual for such a late Corolla?

 

[theman86_2]

you can get a factory direct service manual from toyota for 70.00 usd

 

[dougone]

Can you buy that on the net anywhere??? In Australia you have to buy about 5 books - best part of $600 aussie

 

[theman86_2]

im not sure i noticed the advertisement in my 04 owners manual, also i believe their is a very specific electrical book for another 70 usd

 

[dougone]

Well if you ever see somewhere where I can buy one, let me know my friend! Ok?

 

[dougone]

Ski46, could you email me the page in the manual that shows the location of the engine drain plug and the correct procedure to drain and replace the coolant?

Thanks

 

[duke_togo]

Can you go into the "put your heater control to hot" in a bit more detail?

I've flushed my coolant pretty much the same way as you've described (until the water runs clear), but I have never done anything with the heater controls. More details please!

 

[dougone]

When you flush the coolant you should have the heater control settings to full heat so that you flush the coolant from the heater core as well!

 

[duke_togo]

Ok, so the heater control should be set to full heat while you are flushing. Neat tip, thanks!

 

[dougone]

No problem....now I hope ski46 replies to my earlier question!

 

[ski46]

I purchased the manual from Toyota for about $120. It really is not a good manual and most of the procedures leave out key information. Diagrams are poor in some cases, for example, the location of the drain on the block. Also they have managed to split the manual into 2 volumes at about $120 each.

 

[gak5596]

I finally found the block drain on my ’03 Corolla!!! It is not visible from the front or top of the engine. You have to get under the vehicle and look at the aft side of the block. The block drain is located just to the right of the centerline of the vehicle and quite a bit higher than I expected. It looks like a 3/8” downward pointing spigot with a 10mm socket-screw sticking out horizontally. Attach a hose to the ‘spigot’ to direct the flow into a bucket and loosen the screw until the flow begins. Try not to take it all the way out like I did. It makes a real mess. ;-)

 

[AJVincelli]

2000 Corolla engine block coolant drain plug

Just in case there are any frustrated DIY-ers out there who do random Google searches to find their engine block coolant drain plug...

I FINALLY found the plug after about 45 minutes of searching on my US-model 1.8 L 2000 Toyota Corolla on the rear of the engine block, most easily accessed from the driver's side of the vehicle. Pics are uploaded for reference. There's really no way to describe it. Also, you really, really need a flashlight to see it, even in broad daylight.

My Haynes Workshop Manual has a perfect picture of it (Section 1.18, picture 23.4) but the Haynes Repair Manual (the cheaper one) was useless.

Hope this helps!

 

[camryguy2]

I know this is an old post but just in case someone comes across it and still looking for location of the engine block drain for coolant. Here is the video I made (2004 corolla LE). Hope it will be helpful to some.