Anti-freeze leak

Periodically my low coolant light will come and then go right off again.

I hadn't noticed any visible leaks until the other day. I could smell coolant when I was driving. After parking my car for an extended period of time there was a small puddle of coolant on the ground.

I had my husband check it out and he said it wasn't coming from the rad itself and all the hoses seemed to be fine and not leaking.

My husband thinks it might be the water pump leaking. Is there any easy way to check if this is the problem or what might be causing this leak.

The puddle was near the front of the car but not as far up as the rad. Also there was coolant on parts of the engine underneath. I am not educated on motors so that's the best I could explain it.

It's a 99 GA SE 3.4 ltr V6 engine.

Thanks

It sounds like it could be the infamous LIM (lower intake manifold) gasket leak. That would be my first guess. Where specifically is it leaking? Is it under the throttle body? If it's under the throttle body area or on the belt side of the engine, it could very well be the LIM. Check your oil - make sure it isn't milky in color - if it is it's a sure sign that coolant is mixing with it - and in due time it will eat through your bearings on your motor - which will suck. But hopefully it will only be an external LIM leak. If you look where the heads meet the engine block sides down near the bottom and see some coolant marks running down, those are most likely coming from your shot LIM. If you're not sure what to look for, take it into a shop and have them check it out. The original LIM gaskets were plastic and were melting - the new ones won't melt. A shop would be able to replace your gasket for anywhere from 400 to 700 dollars. You could do it yourself for about 100 dollars. It's a several day fix if you can do it yourself - it's quite an undertaking if you haven't torn into your engine before.

Is it possible for the LIM gasket to have to be replaced twice? The reason I'm asking is because I know I had this fixed/replaced in mid 2003.

My car was still under extended warranty then and the repair shop knew of a problem with the LIM gaskets and these cars so they went ahead and repaired whatever needed to be done then.

I'm hoping it's not that again. I know it was about a $1000 job then.

I'm so sick of the problems I've had with this car. I never had any problems with my 1986 Grand Am I had. They sure don't make things like they used to.

I just had my oil changed, fuel filter changed, air filters replaced and PCV valve replaced. They place I had it done never mentioned anything about milky oil. My husband checks the oil regularly and has never noticed anything other than aging oil.

It's hard to describe where the leak is coming from because I don't know the first thing about engines :( The puddle is on the drivers side closer to the front of the car. I'd say about 1.5-2 ft back from the grill and about the same from the left fender.

I'm really sorry if that description doesn't make sense. I have no idea what the parts are under the hood.

Sadly, the LIM gaskets are notorious for blowing. It isn't likely a replace gasket would blow, unless there was some warping of the manifold mating surfaces, or incorrect torquing down.

Have hubby take a torque wrench to the manifold, 88lb. in. each bolt, twice tighten to the spec.

Sequence is~~~~~~~~~with front of engine to the left of this texting <<<<<<<<


upper 7 3 1 5 9

lower 8 4 2 6 10

Just letting you all know it IS the LIM. I feel like I've been had. It was supposed to have been fixed. I don't know if it was in 2003 or not now. I know it was billed as being fixed but i'll never know. Oh well, live and learn.

Also, I was told a tune up on my car would cost about 250.00 bucks. am I being taken for a ride? Mechanic said something about this car using platinum plugs?

Please advise. thx

^ ^ Your car does NOT use platinum plugs. Platinum plugs run too hot for our engines, and you'll have nothing but trouble. Either put in stockers, or go with a set of NGK Iridium plugs (i forget which exact model number, but I can get the number if you want).

Other then the plugs, 250 $ sounds about right for a general tune-up, when you consider parts and labor.