mystery water leak

[weav6900]

First,I want to thank everyone on this forum.You have been a great help.I've got a 1999 Century Custom.It was bought wrecked(light damage to right front),and fixed by my husband who is a bodyman by profession.I'm using the car to run my rural mail route.So far It's been great,but I"m having a slight problem with minor overheating.When I start the car and it warms up awhile there is a coolant leak.It lasts just a short while then stops and it never seems to leak the rest of the day.The engine never really overheats,the temp gauge sits just one notch over half,which is where it stays throughout the route.I can't find the leak because by the time I find a place to pull over and look it's stopped.I can tell when it leaks by the smell and the puddles I'm leaving at mailboxes.Does anyone have a clue?I'm driving my husband crazy with my worrying.Thanks!

[GTP Dad]

Check the hoses and the heater core. This sounds more like a hose clamp that is loose. Once the engine gets hot the hose expands and the leak goes away. It is possible that it is one of the hoses at the heater core but more than likely it is one of the hoses at the radiator. You may also want to check the hose to the overflow tank. It may have a hole and leaks when the pressure cap relieves. Just a couple of places to look. Good Luck!

[weav6900]

Thanks, I'll have my husband check the hoses in the morning.

[Jerryhandt]

Originally Posted by weav6900

First,I want to thank everyone on this forum.You have been a great help.I've got a 1999 Century Custom.It was bought wrecked(light damage to right front),and fixed by my husband who is a bodyman by profession.I'm using the car to run my rural mail route.So far It's been great,but I"m having a slight problem with minor overheating.When I start the car and it warms up awhile there is a coolant leak.It lasts just a short while then stops and it never seems to leak the rest of the day.The engine never really overheats,the temp gauge sits just one notch over half,which is where it stays throughout the route.I can't find the leak because by the time I find a place to pull over and look it's stopped.I can tell when it leaks by the smell and the puddles I'm leaving at mailboxes.Does anyone have a clue?I'm driving my husband crazy with my worrying.Thanks!

If its the 3.1 engine it is the intake manifold gasket. My daughters 99 malibu and my 2000 century had the same problem. This is notorious for the 3.1 engine.

[weav6900]

Good answer!Right now my husband is putting new gaskets on the intake.It finally got to leaking enough to where we could tell where it was coming from.