Coolant leak
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 60
From: Michigan
Coolant leak
About every 100 miles (once a week) my low coolant light clicks on, and I'm having to fill the coolant tank back up. It appears to pool up on the skid plate, then on to the ground at times. I've shined the flashlight around the engine bay, but don't see anything that stands out. Just looking for suggestions of the most likely place to look first? thanks.
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,465
From: Massachusetts
Can you tell from what area or is it just covering the skidplate? If you can't tell at all then just look at a cooling system diagram and check every connection and hose.
Last edited by dragonrage; Jan 8, 2010 at 10:59 AM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,465
From: Massachusetts
The radiator connections as well as the water pump and thermostat are in the front LH, so check all those. There are O-rings in some of the connections that could go bad as well, or you could have lost a securing clip for one of the hoses, or a hose could be bad, etc.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,900
From: CT
Most common area of leakage is the tank itself. It usually presents itself as white and pink crusties all over the driver's side engine bay. They tend to crack along the seam. Replace the cap and tank as a unit.
Otherwise, pressure test the coolant system. If it's an external leak other than the tank, you'll find it with a pressure test.
Otherwise, pressure test the coolant system. If it's an external leak other than the tank, you'll find it with a pressure test.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 60
From: Michigan
Found the leak!
Looking up from undernieth the car I can see a metal housing that has a (2) bolt flange bolted to the back of the block. It has a coolant hose coming off it and also what appears to be sensor harness that is clipped into the top. There is a hairline crack in the housing 
Can anyone help me identify what this housing is? Is it special order? or will a local auto parts have it? One thing's for sure, it doesn't look like its going to very easy to replace.
Can anyone help me identify what this housing is? Is it special order? or will a local auto parts have it? One thing's for sure, it doesn't look like its going to very easy to replace.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 60
From: Michigan
I bought the car used with 88K on it. It has 102K now and I've never changed either part. There is a small piece broke off the timing belt cover which indicated to me that it might of been changed once.... but I don't know for sure. the water pump is at the front of the engine right? This leak is coming off the back of the engine. thanks !
