03 Coolant Drain
 

I'd like to change the coolant in my wife's Santa Fe, but can't seem to find a drain anywhere. Is there a drain that I'm missing somewhere? 2003 Santa Fe, 3.3 V6, SE

LVP

2003 did not have a 3.3, but that not the concern

Look at the frame under front of car that runs left to right... see the roll stopper (people call it a motor mount).... now look to driver side a couple inches and you should spy a few holes in the frame tube... 1 of them holes will align with the plastic drain plug in bottom of radiator.

Using a #3 phillips, set it straight and firm in the plug, and unscrew.

Due to closeness of radiator and rail to each other the plug will come down and sit on the rail... make sure where the rubber ring is before you
re-install plug.

Most of time it will stay in the drain hole, and you feel slight resistance when you go to install plug back into radiator, thats ok, you have not mis-placed the ring.

Install plug, and snug it, thats all,,,,, very easy to twist the head off the threaded stud, and you'll be mad then, it'll leak coolant, and major pain to get out.

The V-6 engines have a block drain on the rear bank, you'll get a lot more old coolant out, but only readily accessible on the 2WD,,, the transfer is in the way on the 4WD.

So sorry, so sorry!! I have a 2003 Accord in the driveway. The Santa Fe is a 2008 3.3L. I reiterate the same question.... Totally different car. I'm such an idiot!

LVP

Looked again. Passenger side of the plastic cover, under the radiator, there's a round hole with a bright green plug! Bullseye, #3 phillips to screw it out. Plug and rubber gasket, BUT you only get half of the coolant out.

LVP