Radiator Leak

IceBlade · #1 05-01-2008, 11:42 PM

Umm so I parked my car and began to walk away when I heard a dripping sound. Sure enough there was a solid stream of coolant pouring out onto the ground. I'm guessing this isn't good?

wantafastsvx · #2 05-02-2008, 09:34 AM

Yea i would say thats not a good sign. Did you recently do anything to the cooling system? Is it possible you overfilled and when hot overflowed? If not i would check your hoses and the top of your radiator to see if its cracked. I doubt the crack as when mine cracked it was something you could here when walking away. Its sounds like maybe a hose ruptured or you overfilled or??? Where is it leaking from?

IceBlade · #3 05-02-2008, 11:08 AM

It's coming out of the bottom and it wasn't just leaking it was like a steady flow. Can I put water in it to see where it's leaking from?

kwren · #4 05-02-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceBlade

It's coming out of the bottom and it wasn't just leaking it was like a steady flow. Can I put water in it to see where it's leaking from?

that it is coming out of the radiator itself?

wantafastsvx · #5 05-02-2008, 12:37 PM

i would suggest doing that to find the leak. I say either the hose or possible the petcock to drain the radiator is gone or leaking? Fill with water and see where it leaks from. When you find it let us know.

IceBlade · #6 05-02-2008, 03:54 PM

Okay so I'm pretty sure the leak is coming from a hose. It's really hard to get to and I couldn't get it off. It's right behind the timing belt cover. I can't really explain better.. umm.. it's right below where the dip stick is. I'll try and get a picture maybe.

kwren · #7 05-02-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceBlade

Okay so I'm pretty sure the leak is coming from a hose. It's really hard to get to and I couldn't get it off. It's right behind the timing belt cover. I can't really explain better.. umm.. it's right below where the dip stick is. I'll try and get a picture maybe.

where the water pump lives?

wantafastsvx · #8 05-02-2008, 04:37 PM

ruh roh

Looks like you might be pulling the radiator and pulleys to get at that waterpump if its not the hose. Hopefully for you its just the hose. If not this is one of the easiest cars to do a waterpump on. You might as well get an timing belt kit off ebay and replace the pulleys and timing belt while your there. This would definitely be in your best interest unless you know that its been done recently.

IceBlade · #9 05-02-2008, 05:31 PM

Hmm hopefully it's the hose :P

Yeah I already did the timing belt about 6 months ago so that's all good

ensteele · #10 05-02-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceBlade

Hmm hopefully it's the hose :P

Yeah I already did the timing belt about 6 months ago so that's all good

Did you replace the water pump at the same time? If not, now you know why it is a good idea to do it at the same time.

kwren · #11 05-02-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensteele

Did you replace the water pump at the same time? If not, now you know why it is a good idea to do it at the same time.

Water pumps are easily good for 100,000.

I would replace the timing belt again if it lapped up a bunch of water while you are in there. The water could be a little hard on the rollers as well. The EBay kit for pump, timing belt, rollers etc is best bet.
(if it is the water pump leaking)

Company in eastern WA is known to be a good one, in case there are 2 different ones listed at this time.

Best of luck,
Keith

IceBlade · #12 05-02-2008, 11:00 PM

Hmm no I haven't replaced the water pump. Uhh.. what's that look like?

kwren · #13 05-02-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceBlade

Hmm no I haven't replaced the water pump. Uhh.. what's that look like?

one more step in a timing belt replace. same stuff comes off + the pump

IceBlade · #14 05-06-2008, 07:05 AM

So apparently coolant doesn't make you go blind.. which is good 'cause if it did.. I'd be blind. Does burn a little and doesn't taste all that great though.

Hmm so I finally got around to pulling the hose off where I thought the problem was but it was on there really good and I don't think that's where the problem is anymore. Actually the end of the black metal tube was rusted a bit. Could that cause it to leak? The hose was attached well past the rust. But either way I think it was leaking from further up under the intake manifold because everything's really dirty and wet under there. If I thought it was hard getting the other hose off.. this one's gonna be real fun!

On another note there's red stuff dripping off the middle of the timing cover (atf from the power steering?) and I think I'm leaking oil too. This is fun. I came back to my house drenched in coolant yesterday. I also got a nasty cut on my forehead from flailing around trying to get out from under my car haha.

Hocrest · #15 05-06-2008, 07:12 AM

Yeah, there is a hose back further under the intake manifold. Get a set of these and it's not too bad.

I used a short piece of off the shelf tube from the local auto parts store. Use a little lube on the hose so that it slides on easier.