Broken petcock: 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo

850 Turbo1 · Post by **850 Turbo1** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:10

So tonight I replaced my thermostat and my driver side control arm. Everything was fine and dandy...until I overtightened the petcock..DAMN IT!!!...So what happened is now I only have a very small part of the radiator petcock..the rest is loose inside the radiator...it was stuck along the grooves but I dislodged it with a screw driver by hitting upwards just once.

I know I will need a new petcock...but can I just put it in..and ignore the one that is broken and loose inside at the bottom of the radiator? Or do I need to remove it..if so please tell me how.
I lack any experience here.

Thanks in advance!

Post by **jblackburn** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:32

Well, it being in there can't be good...it'll float around and get jammed in things. You might actually have to remove the radiator and shake it out of there - I can't really think of another way to get it out unless you can get something in there and fish around for it.

Once you've got that, you can just screw the new one right in there.

850 Turbo1 · Post by **850 Turbo1** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:37

Hey Jack,
I was afraid you'd say that. Is it easy to get the broken piece out of the radiator by shaking ?

Post by **jblackburn** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:47

I've never tried! It's stuck in that bottom tank, so once you get all the fluid out (which you've probably already done

), it should just shake right out that bottom hose port.

A little more work than you thought you were in for, eh?

850 Turbo1 · Post by **850 Turbo1** » 27 Dec 2009, 21:53

jablackburn wrote: A little more work than you thought you were in for, eh?

You hit the nail right on the head!!!

I will try to fish it out ...if that doesn't work only one way left I supposed...I'll pull out the radiator. Thanks for your help I'll report back...it's so late and I'm tired..but I'll give it a shot tonight!

Thanks again!

850 Turbo1 · Post by **850 Turbo1** » 27 Dec 2009, 22:15

jablackburn wrote:I've never tried! It's stuck in that bottom tank, so once you get all the fluid out (which you've probably already done ), it should just shake right out that bottom hose port.

A little more work than you thought you were in for, eh?

Very very good news...I just looked at the bottom of my radiator and realized that there was a hose right about where my petcock disappeared...pulled the hose out and ABRA KA DABRA..there was the other part of the petcock..pulled it right out...and who said nothing good ever happens after midnight!!!

Post by **jblackburn** » 27 Dec 2009, 22:19

Yay easy solutions! Glad it worked out for you.

I'm off to tackle the evil PCV system tomorrow...