Pace Arrow: PA Diesel Radiator cap and fluid fillup

[ColoradJayco]

Anyone who has opened a rad cap on a car knows you open it by pressing down using your body weight and twisting. The cap on my 2019 PA rear pusher is tucked away a little above eye level behind a panel with space for One hand (see photo if I can load it). First position is easy. Off position seems to require Olympic strength since you can't lean on it. Any suggestions?

To fill the reservoir will require sending distilled water up-hill. A tube I guess. Like several other areas on the Pace Arrow body on the Freightliner chassis, little things like maintenance access were afterthoughts. I'd take it to a shop but I don't want to drive it if it is telling me it needs coolant.

Water Wetter is good stuff. I used it in my race car and mountain Jeep.

[SafariBen]

Wow, that is bad. Is there no way to get access from above?



If you have to use a pump anyway, then you can easily pump coolant through that overflow hose with the cap tight, if you can reach the end of it, and probably remove it from the radiator and flush with a garden hose. Or remove it from the barb there and use a different hose to fill.

[ColoradJayco]

Thats the Tranny reservoir on the right. I may cut away some of the black plastic to get two hands on it.

[Tugboatfrank]

When I had a radiator leak returning home on my initial road trip, I split the material above the cap to give me additional Access. I used a flexible funnel to fill the tank. I agree this location is bad. I used duct tape to seal the cut as this material creates an air dam to force air to travel through the radiator.
As a side note, the radiator had rusted out and I had to replace it. But I made it home by stopping twice to refill the tank and leaving the lid loose to not pressurize the radiator and let natural circulation work.

[TB673]

Don't know if you have the space, but this may be a solution for the cap:
The cap is made by Stant. If I remember, the leaver only opens 45 degree or less.
When the leaver is up, you can remove the cap without pushing down hard.



Tim

[SC182]

I thought I was the only one with this issue!!!!.. I have the exact same setup with my rig. I've found it easier to take my left hand and put it flat on cap (after reaching under black rubber flap and scratching up my hand). Then push your weight down on it and turn it. I'm right handed but cant do it with that hand since the PS reservoir is in the way. I use one of the included plastic nozzles that come with the DEF boxes, that screws onto a coolant jug to do flush and fills.

I've also thought about cutting back some of the rubber material but decided against it. In my rear closet, I can remove a few screws to pull up a carpet plywood panel and also fill from there if needed. Yours may be accessible from up top?

[kwahl1]

Yup Colorad, it's a tough one! I struggled all winter and on 5-6 tries gave up! Got home and almost was ready to take it to the shop ($165/hr) to have them try, until I found something on YouTube. That second twist takes another Olympic size push and turn to remove the cap. Yes a second hard push and it finally came off. Good thing. I was down a gallon.

[palehorse89]

While pushing down on the second half of removal it helps to rock it side to side to get one of the ear's started then pressure the other direction.
Be careful of those plastic tanks, they get spider cracked and do not last to long, a friend's 2017 had to have a new tank already, all cracked up..........https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6076/...b816815f_b.jpg

[henchmaniii]

On my 2005 Discovery, I had the same issue you're having. Found that to access without being a contortionist, the floor in the closet can be removed to get to the radiator cap.