Coolant leak?

**JayTA98** · 01-08-2011, 02:53 PM

Hey guys. I start my car in a cold morning about 1 week ago and the low coolant light came up. It was one of days that it was like 20 degrees here in FL. I turned the car off and then back on and the light was gone.

Yesterday the light came back. I turn the car off and check the radiator and it was like 1/4 of a coolant jug short. I added the coolant and the light went away. I ran the car most of the day and checked a few times but i cant see an actual leak. It could be a very small leak but i can't see it. No coolant dripping on the floor either. I checked the coolant today and it drop a little but not much. The car is not overheating.

Should I start by replacing my radiator cap? Any ideas on where to look? Thanks.

**Sarge** · 01-08-2011, 02:57 PM

Pressure check the system.
Check your dipstick (oil) and see if you have any milky looking crap on there....but have your system pressure checked.

**cammed goat** · 01-08-2011, 03:27 PM

What Sarge said. Also check your radiator, hoses and water pump for leaks. I had the same issue, but no coolant light. Slightly low overflow jug which eventually led to water pump failure.

**JayTA98** · 01-08-2011, 07:08 PM

I checked the oil dipstick and its fine. The overflow jug is at normal levels. I'm going to get pressure test this week when i get a chance. I will keep an eye for leaks. thanks guys.

**Cutlass** · 01-08-2011, 07:30 PM

pressure test as stated. Most common leak source is the water pump. Other than that check over all the rad and heater hose connections and the TB coolant hoses.

**JayTA98** · 01-08-2011, 07:33 PM

I will check those. If is the water pump, will replacing the gasket will do or should I replace the whole pump? Car has 108k. Thanks Cutlass.

**89RS&98Z28** · 01-08-2011, 08:02 PM

When my 98 did this I chased the source of leak for months. Seemed like water was leaking from overflow tank. But not all the time. After realizing the cap was original equipment , I changed it. Was very weak spring and as system pressurized water was sent to overflow. After fixing the cap still had undetected leak. But only days after changing cap waterpump leak finally made itself known. Got the car at 85,000 and made it to 245,000 before needing pump , guess I'm lucky. That and a battery can't complain for 160,000 miles.

**JayTA98** · 01-09-2011, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by 89RS&98Z28

When my 98 did this I chased the source of leak for months. Seemed like water was leaking from overflow tank. But not all the time. After realizing the cap was original equipment , I changed it. Was very weak spring and as system pressurized water was sent to overflow. After fixing the cap still had undetected leak. But only days after changing cap waterpump leak finally made itself known. Got the car at 85,000 and made it to 245,000 before needing pump , guess I'm lucky. That and a battery can't complain for 160,000 miles.

Are you talking about the radiator cap? the overflow tank cap does not have a spring in it. I cleaned all the areas with degreaser and i'm still looking for the leak. nothing found yet. If it is the gaskets of the pump ill prolly change it too along with the waer hoses.

**89RS&98Z28** · 01-09-2011, 05:24 AM

yes the rad cap

**JayTA98** · 01-10-2011, 04:54 PM

Just put a new radiator cap from sutozone. kinda of cheap but just to try it out.

**wileyCoyote** · 01-11-2011, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

I will check those. If is the water pump, will replacing the gasket will do or should I replace the whole pump? Car has 108k. Thanks Cutlass.

probably a good idea to replace w/ a brand new pump. i'm on my 3rd water pump. the original went bad (slight leak) around 90k, the second one went bad (leak - dripping on floor) around 140k...

**JayTA98** · 01-11-2011, 04:53 PM

This might sound stupid but how do i know when the water pump is bad? I know that it could leak from the gasket and that it is a good idea to replace because of all the work involved with replacing the gaskets but is there a way to tell if the pump is bad besides the car overheating? thanks.

**Cutlass** · 01-11-2011, 04:55 PM

loose bearings (ie play in the pulley), a leak from the pump itself (out of the weep hole), and noisey bearings. Those are the 3 most common pump failures.

**cammed goat** · 01-11-2011, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

loose bearings (ie play in the pulley), a leak from the pump itself (out of the weep hole), and noisey bearings. Those are the 3 most common pump failures.

^^Oh, how I know those symptoms.

**JayTA98** · 01-12-2011, 04:51 PM

update: I had the car pressure tested with my mechanic. We didn't noticed any leaks. The presssure was holding. His radiator cap tester was bad so we couldnt test it. I put cheap new radiator cap and im keeping an eye on the fluid to confirm that the cap is the issue.

**cammed goat** · 01-12-2011, 04:52 PM

Keep us updated.

**ftcss** · 01-12-2011, 08:12 PM

I've got the light on all of the time now, but the coolant levels are fine. No leaking, but the light stays on. Anyone else every have this problem?

**mike171562** · 01-13-2011, 06:49 AM

its common for that sensor to go bad, you can take it out and clean it and sometimes that fixes it for a while, I just unplugged mine.

**ftcss** · 01-13-2011, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by mike171562

its common for that sensor to go bad, you can take it out and clean it and sometimes that fixes it for a while, I just unplugged mine.

Where is the sensor located?

**JayTA98** · 01-13-2011, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by ftcss

Where is the sensor located?

I think is on the passenger side of the back side area of the radiator facing the engine. I believe is a small square box close to the top of the radiator. In my case the level was dropping so its not the sensor.