So my 89 Firebird 2.8l recently started spraying out coolant from the little hose that connects the heater control valve. It's the tiniest hose that heads toward the engine block. Autozone sells a hose that states its for the heater control and that 3 are required so it's probably that hose right? Just need to cut it to size?

Also I was wondering about actually refilling coolant after emptying the entire system. I once tried it and had a very hard time getting the coolant to actually go into the engine after filling into the radiator. The way I drained the coolant was by just pulling the lower hose. My guess is this is because of air in the engine. I would run the engine but the coolant wouldn't go in. Is there any way to easily get the coolant into the engine? The manual mentions removing the thermostat but I would rather avoid doing that. Is there a bleeder screw for bleeding out air? Or is there a trick to adding coolant so I don't have to remove the thermostat? Just kind of wanna drain and fill.

Thanks,

 

A heater control valve leaking coolant from it's vacuum port is bad and must be replaced. I've never needed to remove the thermostat to burp the radiator, about the most I've ever had to do was to jack up the car from the front on whichever side the radiator fill cap is on and run it at idle adding coolant till it's full....

 

these cars are easy to add coolant to.

If the valve is old just change it as well and save yourself a future headache!