Need Urgent Radiator Help!!!

I went to get my battery tested today and we noticed my radiator is spewing coolant all over the engine. It is coming out of the top of the radiator, on the passenger side. Right by the batter there is a big hole it is spewing out of. It looks like there is supposed to be some kind of plug there. I would say a missing hose but the hose would have to fit inside the hole since there is no tube for the hose to fit over or be clamped to. The hole is on the engine side of the radiator at the top right. If anyone knows what goes there please tell me so I can stop spewing a fortune in radiator fluid and coming close to over heating all the time. Thankfully it is winter and 20 degrees... Anyway, and assistance would be GREATLY appreciated.

I went to get my battery tested today and we noticed my radiator is spewing coolant all over the engine. It is coming out of the top of the radiator, on the passenger side. Right by the batter there is a big hole it is spewing out of. It looks like there is supposed to be some kind of plug there. I would say a missing hose but the hose would have to fit inside the hole since there is no tube for the hose to fit over or be clamped to. The hole is on the engine side of the radiator at the top right. If anyone knows what goes there please tell me so I can stop spewing a fortune in radiator fluid and coming close to over heating all the time. Thankfully it is winter and 20 degrees... Anyway, and assistance would be GREATLY appreciated.

There is a tube from the radiator to the coolant overflow tank that connects about that spot. The tube attaches to a small metal pipe that is connected to the radiator. Maybe the pipe has broken off. Trace the rubber tube from the coolant tank towards the left of the radiator (passenger side).

The hole I am talking about is about 1 1/2 to 2 inch diameter. Does that still sound about right?

The hole I am talking about is about 1 1/2 to 2 inch diameter. Does that still sound about right?

Did you find the rubber tube from the coolant overflow tank? You might find the metal pipe and a piece of the radiator attached. Not good but might explain a hole that big.

There is a small maybe 1/2 inch at best hose going from the plastic overflow all the way back to the other side of the radiator and it is connected tight under the radiator cap. What I am talking about is about an inch lower and an inch more towards the driver side. It is basically right under the round metal crossbeam. Under that us a rubber piece that looks like it may be a mount. Right under that is the big hole. So basically if you were lookeing at the back of the radiator from the inside of the van it is a little lower and to thr right of the radiator cap/fill tube.

There is a small maybe 1/2 inch at best hose going from the plastic overflow all the way back to the other side of the radiator and it is connected tight under the radiator cap. What I am talking about is about an inch lower and an inch more towards the driver side. It is basically right under the round metal crossbeam. Under that us a rubber piece that looks like it may be a mount. Right under that is the big hole. So basically if you were lookeing at the back of the radiator from the inside of the van it is a little lower and to thr right of the radiator cap/fill tube.

Oh, OK not what I thought. Maybe the coolant level sensor. The temperature sensor is around there too I think. The coolant sensor has an electrical connection. The temperature sensor probably does too but I haven't explored that recently. Maybe one of them came loose. That would explain a big hole and cheaper to fix.

If the Oldsmobile Silhouette is the same radiator, as most of the rest of it seems to be the same I can ask my wife to try to take a picture of hers and email it to me tomorrow. I can try to take a pic of mine but all I have is my cell phone and it probably won't work too well. I will try anyway though.

I cannot believe I have spent almost 3 hours looking for a good picture of a radiator, a diagram, anything and cannot find anything online. This is the best I can come up with. In case the text can't be read it just points to where the leak is...directly under that bar at the top of the radiator.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l124/layusn1/Engine.jpg

I would remove the metal bar and look. I think the nipple for the overflow tank broke. I assume its plastic and a new tank for the top of the radiator is needed. Some radiator shops will replace this for you. The radiator shop I used to use stopped doing this.
Check Pep Boys price they used to be close to an independant shops price.
I assume you will need a new radiator. A scrap yard also sells them but I have problems doing this. Call some radiator shops for a new top tank price.
A brass tank any radiator shop can solder and repair.

If the overflow tank is the big tank all the way to the right it is hooked up to a tube right under the radiator cap with that tiny hose. That is the only hose I see coming from the overflow tanks.

If the overflow tank is the big tank all the way to the right it is hooked up to a tube right under the radiator cap with that tiny hose. That is the only hose I see coming from the overflow tanks.

I'm looking at a picture of the right side of the rad in a 1997 to 2001 Olds Silhouette. Sister to your Venture. Haynes manual.

It shows from top down:

a) Rad cap and rad cap neck
b) Upper transaxle coolant line
c) Coolant level sensor
d) Lower rad hose and:
e) lower transaxle coolant line

That's all there is, take your pick.

I would love to take a pick but I have no idea what or where any of those are, sorry. I don't have a picture. I searched for my venture and my wifes Silhouette for 3 hours and couldn't find a picture I could use to illustrate what I am talking about. I am hoping I won't need a new radiator because I am disabled and cannot replace it myslef. The bummer is the radiator is only about $150. Probably $400 by the time someone else installs it.

Go to a radiator shop and ask for a quote. They will tell you what is wrong.
At this point either get it done or go elsewhere. If you go to Auto Zone or Advance Auto they have parts changers who will change the part for a price.
They are shadetree mechanics who work in front. U-Pull it has a parts pulling shop near the premises ask them for a quote.
Pep Boys also have a service department get a quote here.
Not doing anything will cause to loose the engine big money.

Nowhere to find what year model you have, not even in your profile, but from your picture I took a chance with a 2002...same part # valid for 2001-2005
http://www.avigex.ca/xport/radiatorV2002.jpg

From your description, the transmission connector b) is gone ...so some metal tubing it hanging somewhere going nowhere and the transmission fluid and engine coolant are mixing or spraying out together.......
....once you have taken care of the radiator, it seems you'll have to pay attention to the transmission fluid...

the side tank can be replaced on the passenger side without replacing the whole radiator. a side tank for a big silverado radiator costs $150.00 but the radiator on a venture is alot smaller.you have to pull the fans to get the radiator out.i looked at my silho and the fan bolt could have broken out of the radiator as its screwed in the plastic tank.if the trans line fitting broke out they can put a new side tank on your radiator complete with new fittings. as the plastic gets a little age on it will crack.

OK, I took this with my cellphone from the passenger side of the van. Sorry about the hand, had to move a hose to the side so you could see the hole.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l124/layusn1/Radiator.jpg

..thhis hole does not seem to be in a part of the radiator itself...rather in a metal cover over the radiator, and it is well outside the radiator tank area....http://www.avigex.ca/xport/hole.jpg we can clearly see the place where the cover is joined to the actual radiator core, to the right of the "hole" (...right, once the photo is rotated to its correct orientation).


THis hole is not a defect...but if coolant is spewing through it, then the radiator behind is damaged or the seal between the core and end tank is damaged....that just happened to my son's Caravan....

NOw...did you start the engine since you discovered that coolant spraying over the engine? IN fact, this "hole" may not be involved with that, and coolant might very sell spew from another area. I'd test the case to have a better idea of what happens, see if engine reaches steady operation temperature, if heater works normally and delivers heat; at this point, the problem needs to be documented some more....

Either find a friend who look at the hole and check if it isn't threaded so he can screw a plug into the hole. Otherwise pay him to remove the radiator and take it to a radiator shop. Pictures won't fix the leak.

Look down inside the engine compartment. You are missing the coolant level sensor. Its held in place by a flimsy clip. Unless someone stole yours, it should be dangling down from the wire harness. Just plug it back in. You may need to make a new clip out of a paper clip if yours is missing.
John

I haven't seen anything dangling but I will go take a look in a minute. I need to check the anti freeze level anyway. I intend to take it to the mechanic Saturday morning. Thanks for the kind and quick replies. If I find something dangling I will come back and let you know. If not I will post what broke and what the mechanic did so that it is here in case anyone else has this problem.

OK, I just went out. There is nothing I can see hanging anywhere. I put in more anti freeze and let it run for a minute. I went back under the hood and heard a noticeable hissing but it did not change at all when I covered the hole with my hand so I wonder if maybe it is just coming from an area very close to that hole like someone suggested earlier. Who knows...either way I should have an answer Saturday...lol.

Well, I went and got the van repaired today so as promised I am updating the outcome. I wasn't actually missing anything, it just looked to me like something should be there. Basically I had a small hole in the radiator but since it is pressurized it spews the antifreeze that much more. The end outcome...new radiator, new thermostat, new antifreeze and labor...$800. A bit much if you ask me but its done. $78 an hour for labor is crazy.

Well, I went and got the van repaired today so as promised I am updating the outcome. I wasn't actually missing anything, it just looked to me like something should be there. Basically I had a small hole in the radiator but since it is pressurized it spews the antifreeze that much more. The end outcome...new radiator, new thermostat, new antifreeze and labor...$800. A bit much if you ask me but its done. $78 an hour for labor is crazy.

Thanks for the update. I might have the same problem (I hope). Not spewing exactly, more of a slow leak. My plan is to a) try Bar's Leaks (Bars Leaks) again (properly - I didn't really get much in the radiator), b) replace radiator or c) dispose of the car. It's good to have an estimate of one potential repair. The radiator itself was more than I thought it would be.

The radiator is actually only $200 online so I don't know why it was $400 but I printed out where I found it online for that price and they knocked $50 off. They installed a Silla 2621A. Found it at autopartswarehouse.com. The majority of it was the $78 an hour labor fee. But I do have a lifetime warranty on that radiator now. I mentioned the stop leak stuff and the mechanic said for the love of God and your coolant system/vehicle...please...never put that $%^& in your radiator.

The radiator is actually only $200 online so I don't know why it was $400 but I printed out where I found it online for that price and they knocked $50 off. They installed a Silla 2621A. Found it at autopartswarehouse.com. The majority of it was the $78 an hour labor fee. But I do have a lifetime warranty on that radiator now. I mentioned the stop leak stuff and the mechanic said for the love of God and your coolant system/vehicle...please...never put that $%^& in your radiator.

It looked like quite a bit expensive (maybe $250-300) when I looked online. I have an LT which may take a different radiator.

Yeah, I have a family friend, auto technician, who doesn't think much of Bar's Leaks and similar ;-). I looked at a few sites talking about Bar's Leak and they suggest it works well. Even some reports of GM using it on some of their earlier models. I have a Scan Gauge and watch the water temp fairly often. It seemed to stay about 184-186 most of the time before the Bar's Leak and maybe a little higher some of the time after, no more than 190. But then the weather has been quite a bit warmer too.

So far, I haven't really put much Bar's Leak in the radiator. I siphoned off some coolant to make room for the Bars but I think it must have drained back from the overflow tank because I was only able to put about 1/4 of the bottle in the radiator before it filled up.

The hourly rate isn't all profit. Rent will cost $3000.00 to $7000.00 per month or more. Shop manuals probably close to $1000.00 per year. Computer scanner $3500.00 plus $680.00 yearly update. Computer system for manuals.Lifts and alignment machines aren't free $7500.00 alignment machine $35,000.00. Brakes lathes parts cleaners and ect all cost money. Parts markup has to cover come backs not all parts are good. I imagine you get vacation and health benefits. A lot of mechanics don't plus the work is not steady. A lot of people are short of cash and are putting off repairs. I'm retired but a friend who used to work for me charges this rate and he's come close to going broke. His shop is doing ok at this time more people are repairing rather than upgrading.
Its not all gravy like you think.

Yeah, I get all of that. Honestly I am mostly frustrated that I am physically unable to do this stuff myself anymore since I cannot stand long enough to do this stuff anymore, I had severe nerve damage following a surgery. I understand that there are a lot of costs associated with running a shop but at the same time, I do understand that the mechanics get paid well for their knowledge. My wife's ex husband is a mechanic and 10 years ago in Dallas he was clearing around 90k a year. Like I said, good on them for getting paid for all of their knowledge and expertise. I am, again, just frustrated because I know I know how to do what needs to be done, I just can't.

... I mentioned the stop leak stuff and the mechanic said for the love of God and your coolant system/vehicle...please...never put that $%^& in your radiator.
......:2cents: I agree...

the barrs usually ends up stopping up everything but the hole its supposed to.