why does this happen to me!!
why does this happen to me!! Well from reading some threads on here it appeared my recent coolant disappearing act was the result of a bad radiator cap. I replaced the cap today and went to bleed it from the little screw near the thermostat housing. The friggin screw fell off and went down behind the water pump! I have a long flexible magnet but guess what that little screw isnt able to get picked up! i tried the small housing it fits in, same thing, no magnetic anything. I know I can get the screw from any lt car in a junkyard, but I'm scared that a loose screw behind my wp housing would lead to disastrous things! Can anyone confirm this fear? 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2005
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The bleeder screws are unfortunately made of brass, and brass is not magnetic. The housing I believe is aluminum, which is also not magnetic.
In all honesty, I don't think a screw down there could do much harm -- it's probably just sitting in a corner on top of the optispark, away from any moving/rotating parts. Still, it would probably annoy me to the point I would tear off the waterpump to get at it.
For future reference, you don't have to physically remove the screw to bleed the system -- I believe a half-turn or full turn will do it.
In all honesty, I don't think a screw down there could do much harm -- it's probably just sitting in a corner on top of the optispark, away from any moving/rotating parts. Still, it would probably annoy me to the point I would tear off the waterpump to get at it.
For future reference, you don't have to physically remove the screw to bleed the system -- I believe a half-turn or full turn will do it.
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
While everything is out, do at least this: Take the weep hole on the water pump, tap it out and put in a threaded barb fitting, then run some rubber hose down to the ground and zip tie it to something so if/when the pump goes, it wouldn't puke on your opti. And then the opti: Wouldn't be a bad idea to replace it since you'll be removing it, or at least do a cap and rotor. If you do either of those, seal it up nice and tight with silicone and also tap a hole in it and run a 'vent' line up to the CAI so it works like a vented opti
