how hard is dega bottle replacement

[oldhead]

like the title states
what need to be done to replace the dega(reservoir) bottle.
it look pretty tight in there

 

[robnu0069]

Calls For .9 Hrs

 

[hite337]

just did mine about a month ago and i took about an hour and 15 min. you have to remove the wiper arms, cowl cover on both sides, the 'strut tower brace', and theres a hose clamp behind the right side valve cover thats a pain in the a$$ to reach. then remove the bolts on the degas bottle and it should pull right out. installation is same in reverse. after you do this you must bleed the air out of the cooling system properly or you will get air bubbles building up behind the thermostat causing overheating. theres a few threads on here explaining the proper way to do this. i got my degas bottle at parts.com $104.00....they call it a radiator reservoir and it comes with the heater air bleed hose and the lower hose that goes to the heater core. i also got a new reservoir cap($5), thermostat($13), and a thermostat housing cap($8). i didnt replace my hoses yet but if your degas bottle had cracks like mine did, its not a bad idea.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2934897

 

[oldhead]

Thanks Hite337

good write up I did know about the hose clamp.

again thanks

Gene

 

[exceptionaLS]

Thanks Hite337

good write up I did know about the hose clamp.

again thanks

Gene

I gotta do the degas replacement too I think. Where you at in Jersey? Maybe would could make a group project out of it. V6 or V8?

 

[Ringmaster]

I need to start thinking about this too. What part of Jersey? I'm at the point where I'd like to slap some duct tape on it.

 

[exceptionaLS]

I'm in north jersey...near Westwood/ englewood/ paramus....although my avatar says ny I swear im in jersey

 

[SlickLS]

On top of taking the wiper blades, cowl, and strut tower brace off I found it real easy to get the clamp on the bottom of the bottle if you take the front driver's side wheel off and pull out the inner fender-well. Behind the plastic fender-well you will see a good sized hole where you can get some needle nose pliers in there to take the clamp off the degas bottle. For future reference you will also see your fuel filter behind the inner fender-well too. Good Luck!!!

 

[lseguy]

On top of taking the wiper blades, cowl, and strut tower brace off I found it real easy to get the clamp on the bottom of the bottle if you take the front driver's side wheel off and pull out the inner fender-well. Behind the plastic fender-well you will see a good sized hole where you can get some needle nose pliers in there to take the clamp off the degas bottle. For future reference you will also see your fuel filter behind the inner fender-well too. Good Luck!!!

EXACTLY. This post is KEY to an easy degas bottle replacement. Ford actually put those holes in there/behind the plastic wheel well liner for access to those hose clamps.

 

[hite337]

i wish i'd have known that...lol

 

[oldhead]

I have the bottle but right now I think I have Air in the system which, may be causing my problem. I'm going to try and bleed the system using the tech article by Quik first. Will do tomorrow.

 

[robnu0069]

calls for .9 hrs

 

[SlickLS]

Well if your car is leaking coolant/water from the bottom of where the fender and door meet on the driver's side then it is the degas bottle, but it might have leaked in the past and you never noticed and then emptied and sucked in some air which could now be causing the problem (air in the system). If you have the degas bottle go ahead and change it out and bleed the system then. Keep us posted!!