Coolant leak

[kev's 96 Aurora]

I seem to have the famed "passenger side coolant leak" now...the only thing I want to know is that for the others that had it was it a constant leak for you...what I mean is that I ran the car Thurs. and when I parked it it leak a stream for about 30 sec then dripped for about 30 min leaving a spot about the size of a five gallon bucket bottom...I drove the car on Friday to the detail/tint shop and when I got there it didn't drip at all...I was there most of the day cleaning the car then getting it tinted and when I drove it back home it did the same stream and dripping...the computer said "low coolant" on Friday when I started it up to come home and I checked the overflow tank and it seemed to be low...Today I drove it to my parents house for a visit and it never leaked there either but I went ahead and put about a quart of antifreeze and a quart of water in the tank and brought it home and once I got home it dripped a little but no stream....My question is to all the ones that know this problem and have experience with it does this mean that the problem is the same as you have had...It seems that whatever is cracked/loose is high on the radiator so that it only leaks out what is above it but when I drive the car the temp never goes above 220 and amost always stays around 200...is that where your problems have been...is this the problem where everyone has to purchase another radiator...I am taking it to a mechanic on Monday and I kinda want to get ALL the info I can so the peron doesn't root around for a number of hours when I can tell him where the problem most likely is...sorry for such a long winded post but I just got this car and it seems that the person I bought it from lied to me when he said "The engine is great"...all comments welcome...thanks in advance.

[ugsrich]

I had a leaking radiator myself on my '95 at about 110K miles (August '03). As you describe the problem was located on the passenger side AND it was intermittent. I removed the Upper Tie Bar Assembly to fully inspect the radiator. I discovered a very small crack in the right-side (passenger) radiator tank near the top. At high temperatures/pressures and coolant levels it would leak. At lower temperature/pressures and coolant level it would not.

I removed the radiator, a tedious but easy job, took it to a radiator repair shop where they boiled and rod-out the core and replaced the non-metallic cracked tank. Approximate cost: $125. My labor: Priceless.

My recommendation is to take it to a radiator shop - these guys have the equipment to do this somewhat specialized (low-tech) work. I suspect any other repair shop will simply do as I did – take it out, take it to a radiator shop for the repair and re-install it. Worst case, I suspect you can obtain a re-conditioned radiator for about $250 and have it installed.

[kev's 96 Aurora]

The mechanic that is doing the work is a family friend with lots of contacts so I figure the labor will be cheap as will parts and repairs...he is going to go over the whole car for any problems...hopefully this will turn out to have been a good buy...I mean the car has 89k miles the interior is practically new...the leather has NO wear to it...must have been a skinny lightweight..lol...all the features seem to work except each one of the power window buttons don't work execpt the driver cluster..I can operate all windows from driver door but the other buttons seem to be dead...could this be a fuse or something...o well, a few things like that I can live with for only paying $3000 for the car...o wait, I will have to put rubber on the back by next winter, big deal right...thanks for the comment ugsrich, wish there were more.

[RobertHammen]

<I can operate all windows from driver door but the other buttons seem to be dead>

Sure you don't have the Window Lock (rocker switch below the quad of window control buttons) turned on? That would keep the other window controls at the other 3 doors from working. Not sure if this is the problem you were having, just a thought.

--Robert

[IronAuroraV8]

I have the same passenger side coolant leak !!!
I leaks pretty bad from under the car and also it sprays coolant all over the accesory belts/pullies
But i'm unable to visually locate the leak - clamps on all of my radiator hoses are SS and screw type
I wonder if previous owner had them replaced
because he had the water pump replaced.

i will take the radiator out of the car and see what the local radiator R/R shop can do with it.

IronKrakus.

[ugsrich]

I too had the same leak (see previous post) - detecting the source of the leak required that I remove the Upper Tie Bar (the piece that covers the radiator) and do an up close visual inspection. My leak (passenger side plastic radiator tank) did not spray but was more of a weep (I guess I caught it early enough). It is very difficult to inspect the radiator without at least removing the Tie Bar. The good news is, the Upper Tie Bar (as it's called in the service manual) is very east to remove.

Good Luck!

[kev's 96 Aurora]

I tried the windows in unlock mode...Someone said that the other windows could run off of a fuse or something...all 3 switches are completely dead...so I don't think it would be a pinched wire in all 3 doors...I will have to see if there is a module or fuse that controls the doors.