'99 GC w/160k miles has been leaking coolant sporadically for over 6 months.
About every 2 months or so the engine starts overheating and the coolant overflow is bone dry. Fill the overflow with coolant and it instantly starts leaking heavily on the underside of the passenger side of the van. Also get a clattering noise from behind the instrument panel when this occurs.
I know nothing about auto mechanics, but we're super tight on funds and I need to find out what is wrong and approx. how much to fix the problem.
No white smoke from the exhaust, no foam in the oil filler, no cracks in the reservior...just a steady leak under the passenger side.
WTH is going on?!
If anyone has a diagram of the underbody listing what is what I would be very grateful. I know I can't fix it myself (I'm just a girl ;) ), but I really want to understand what is going on so I don't get reamed by a repair shop.
HELP!
hemi1569
09-18-2008, 08:42 PM
Do you smell coolant in the vehicle? It is not coming in on the carpet is it....(Heater core leaking)
Do you have rear air/heat in your vehicle? Could be the rear heater lines, they rust and leak real bad...
Could be a bad water pump but i don't get the whole chattering from the dashboard thing. Does it only do this when the coolant is LEAKING OR LOW? Or does it chatter most of the time?
caravanagain
09-18-2008, 09:08 PM
No coolant on the carpet, yes it has rear air, and occasionally I will smell a mild burning smell, but I have not had the opportunity of smelling burning coolant before now. The smell occurs as sporadically as the overheating, but a few weeks before overheating occurs.
The clattering behind the instrument panel only happens as the engine temp starts to rise. It sounds like a critter tapped in there and trying desperately to get out. After I add more coolant and the engine temp drops, the clattering will stop.
Thank you so much for replying!
hemi1569
09-18-2008, 10:40 PM
Have your system pressure tested... You can buy a pressure tester at a parts store for cheap, then attach it to the radiator and pump it up to the recommended psi on the top of the radiator cap. Check for leaks. I think the sound you are hearing in the dash is the coolant boiling in the heater core.
mfahey
09-19-2008, 03:55 PM
As mentioned, the rear heater lines do corrode around the bracket that supports them to the body. On my 2001, rather than replace the entire hard line up to the engine, I just cut out a piece and used heater hose and clamps to replace it.
caravanagain
09-19-2008, 07:46 PM
UPDATE!
I drove 17 miles to work in the city today and topped off the coolant via the overflow reservior. 8 hours later I came out to see a puddle of green under my van. Started the engine, added more coolant to the reservior (it was below minimum and I added enough to maximum) then looked underneath the passenger side and there was a steady drip of coolant from the left-most line of 2 lines running to the rear of the van. I have the rear air/heat option. It looks to be leaking from some sort of crimp seal from a ribbed rubber hose to a metal crimp. What am I looking at? And how can we fix this on the cheap?!
scotto
09-19-2008, 07:52 PM
As mentioned, the rear heater lines do corrode around the bracket that supports them to the body. On my 2001, rather than replace the entire hard line up to the engine, I just cut out a piece and used heater hose and clamps to replace it.
Looks like mfahey already answered your question. If money is a problem, I would be more worried about blowing a head gasket or an engine which would cost a heck of alot more than a minor coolant issue. Get it fixed as soon as possible.
Hemi has also suggested that get the coolant system pumped up and see where all the leaks are occuring. Very wise on Hemi's part, I would do as he says.
