Hello all, I have an 87 Subaru wagon gl non turbo. It started overheating and steaming and I found what looks like a drain plug mid way up the radiator. It clearly was the issue but when I tried to remove it the top just fell off. It clearly was sheared somehow or just broke. I can't find what the part name is. It doesn't make sense to be the drain for the radiator because its half way up on the left hand side, if facing the car. I've attached two pics of where it was and the severed top. Any help would be awesome on how to get the remaining piece out and what replacement I'll need. I have a Chilton and Haines and couldn't find it so far.

The piece https://www.dropbox.com/s/53qcvkwmjwuu6hi/2015-01-06%2014.28.56.jpg?dl=0

 

The spot it goes..if you zoom in you can see the white where it attached. https://www.dropbox.com/s/w0uv5lwrkezvu5h/2015-01-06%2014.19.01.jpg?dl=0

Edited January 6, 201511 yr by goldtoof

It almost looks like a freeze plug.  Does it screw back in?

 

 

I'm going to move your thread to the old gen forum.  I'm sure you'll get some more feedback there.

That is the plug hole for the thermister switch that tells the auxiliary fan when to go on and off.  Overheating may be because someone did not install that switch in so that your auxiliary fan never runs, unless it has been hot wired.  Overheating is also the symptom of cylinder head bolts getting loose enough for a cylinder head gasket to allow hot combustion air to be pushed into the cooling system.

Edited January 7, 201511 yr by scoobiedubie

There was nothing attached to the plug? I would assume if it told a fan to go on it would be wired? Both fans work it looks almost like I have an automatics radiator and someone just plugged it?

I know this is why it's over heating because I can see the steam coming out.