Yet ANOTHER problem about leaking coolant

dwd1985 · #1 12-24-2005, 10:48 AM

When I first got my SVX back fafter being in the shop for 5 weeks, I got some check engine lights, but those went away and havent come back, and it was suggested that it was the ECU re-adapting to the engine after being disconnected for so long. But now there is a definite problem, because I am leaking coolant again. I just picked my car up not even 48 hours ago, and the reason I brought it in in the first place was because it was leaking coolant. Well they told me I needed a new water pump, and it ended up being a water pump, water pump gasket, cam and crank seals, valve cover gaskets, timing belt, thermostat gasket, and underdrive pulleys. I dont know if it is something they they messed up or a totally new problem, or maybe something simple. Before, it was leaking coolant from the drivers side towards the windshield, now its leaking from the passenger side right up front. I took some pictures that I will post. Its not like its a dripping leak, it looks as though it just sprayed out under pressure. And under a good amount of force as well, because it made its way all the way to the top of the ABS system and the airbox! The first picture is a picture of the general area it is coming from. The second picture is a close up, and you can even see the coolat pooled in some area, and all of the white stuff that looks like road salt is dried up coolant. The last picture is even closer up. Can someone please tell me what this is? Right now I am at my parents house for the holidays, which means im 100 miles from home, and I will need to get back there in the next 3 or 4 days, so please let me know what this could be. My father and I checked the hoses already, and they are all tight and not cracked. Also, the leak only happens after the car has reached operating temperature, when the fans are on, and coolant flow is high. Thanks in advance for the help. This forum has yet to fail me, so im confident I will get this one figured out quickly.

dwd1985 · #2 12-24-2005, 11:00 AM

I forgot to attach the pictures.

chris92svxlsl · #3 12-24-2005, 11:31 AM

Two possible things, cracked radiator, or check the underside of the hoses again esp upper radiator hose sometimes if the clamp is too tight it can cut the underside of the hose, this happened to me, but from what you said about the operating temp looks like a bad radiator, 400 bucks gets you a new one at the suby dealer

dwd1985 · #4 12-24-2005, 12:15 PM

OK, something BAD happened through the course of trying to fix this coolant problem. I decided to tighten up the bolts on the passenger side thinking that maybe by some chance they were loose and the coolant was leaking from there. Well I had no sooner gotten the wrench on when the bolt came right out, and I noticed that the threading BROKE OFF ON THE END OF IT! I dont even know what this bolt is too, but engine oil leaked out of the hole it came from. Again, I will post pictures of this bolt, and the hole it came from. I know that the oil seal on this bolt is something that I just had the repair place fix through the course of the time it was there, so im wondering if they broke it, and just stuck it back in the hole, and didnt tell me. Im alreayd pissed as hell at these people, and now I dont even know what to do about these new problems, because im so far away from their shop. Someone please tell me waht I can do about this bolt here, at least I could drive while leaking coolant, I cant drive at all if its leaking oil from here. I am willing to go to a subaru dealership and get a new bolt, but if the threading broke off while still attached, how am I supposed to put it in? Anyways, here are the picture of what is broken. #'s 0338/0339 are obviously the bolt, and 0340 is the area it came out of, located in the passenger side towards the front. The hole in the middle of the picture with the oil dripping out is where it came from.
P.S: I highly doubt its a bad radiator, I just had that replaced about 15,000 miles ago, and still have the paperwork from it. I dont think it is that.

SilverSpear · #5 12-24-2005, 12:38 PM

Go back to their shop with an AK47

oab_au · #6 12-24-2005, 03:39 PM

The bolt is just a cam cover bolt, it won't have any pressure behind it, just leak. You could clean the area with some petrol to remove the oil and glue the bolt and rubber back in with some Silastic or such. This will stop the leak to get you back home.

The water leak can be found by filling the radiator while cold, then running it till the pressure is up and the fans start, with the hood up. This should start the leak, so you can see where it comes from.

Harvey.