Coolant leaking somewhere...

iamsodamnconfused · #1 09-12-2005, 09:24 AM

I have yet another problem with my 99 GASE (2.4)
Somewhere, coolant is leaking, but I dunno where. I checked my oil, its not milky, I taped some white paper next to my overflow tube just to see if it was coming from there, that isnt it either, and theres nothing leaking on the ground. But heres the weird thing, on cool mornings, I wouldnt turn on the heat, I would simply turn the setting to the front vents, and set it to hot with the blower off, knowing that driving a highway speeds, it would worm the car up, but I smell coolant, and it will also burn my eyes. Any ideas on where it could be leaking to or from? Oh yeah, I guess I should add, that I did check the floor, and I do not see any kind of leaks into the car.

Ridenour · #2 09-12-2005, 10:09 AM

It sounds like your heater core is leaking. Another possibility would be that you have an external LIM leak; and that it's pooling in the area under the throttle body and evaporating from there from the heat before it can drip down onto the ground. My bet would be a bad heater core, however.

iamsodamnconfused · #3 09-12-2005, 10:18 AM

Where is it, and how do you replace it?

xeroinfinity · #4 09-12-2005, 01:15 PM

i'd say the heater core also. its under the passangers side dash. remember to disconnect the battery and maybe pull the fuse for the air bags, because you'll be working right below the passengers airbag and you could accidentlly set it off.

Its quite a bit of stuff to remove the heater core. Drain the radiator.disconnect the heater hoses from under the hood against the firewall on the passangers side. and plug the hose if coolant running everwhere. remove the lower right sound insulator panel from below the glove box, the lower left sound insulator panel and the knee bolster from below the steering column. Then remove the center console and glove box.

The console may not need removed all the way. Disconnect the drain tube from the heater core cover. Remove the air duct below the heater. Remove the instrument panel cross beam and the heater/Ac unit can be removed from the vehical and remove the heater core and unclamp the clamps and slide the heater core out.

Then revearse proceedure to reinstall. If I missed something just give me a holler, and we'll see what I can do. XI

iamsodamnconfused · #5 09-12-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

i'd say the heater core also. its under the passangers side dash. remember to disconnect the battery and maybe pull the fuse for the air bags, because you'll be working right below the passengers airbag and you could accidentlly set it off.

Its quite a bit of stuff to remove the heater core. Drain the radiator.disconnect the heater hoses from under the hood against the firewall on the passangers side. and plug the hose if coolant running everwhere. remove the lower right sound insulator panel from below the glove box, the lower left sound insulator panel and the knee bolster from below the steering column. Then remove the center console and glove box.

The console may not need removed all the way. Disconnect the drain tube from the heater core cover. Remove the air duct below the heater. Remove the instrument panel cross beam and the heater/Ac unit can be removed from the vehical and remove the heater core and unclamp the clamps and slide the heater core out.

Then revearse proceedure to reinstall. If I missed something just give me a holler, and we'll see what I can do. XI

Ouch! Doesn't sound like thats something I wanna do. I wonder how much the dealer will screw me over to fix this.......

iamsodamnconfused · #6 09-12-2005, 01:35 PM

Oh yeah, i dunno if you've seen this or not, but its kinda funny. Its a cartoon making fun of the high gas prices. BTW, does it take anyone else $40 to fill up their Grand AM?

http://toccionline.kizash.com/films/1001/178/index.php

MacCardwell · #7 09-12-2005, 02:24 PM

Sounds like the heater core to me also. Check whats coming out of the AC condensate drain to see if there's not some coolant there. When the heater core leaks, it will usually drain into the condensate tray.

xeroinfinity · #8 09-12-2005, 03:09 PM

the stealership would probley run about $300-400. I have done them for $150-160, in a couple hours. Keeping parts, like screws and clips, organized for a quick'r install is the key to getting this job done.

How bigs your gas tank? Both my 99 and 01 only hav a 12gal tank. You can go here, http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...5&goto=newpost
We've been discussing this for a while now. You can see what gas prices hav been from several places.

MacCardwell may hav another piont. the drain on the heatercore housing can get plugd and drain inside onto the floor. Might get lucky, you never know. XI

skibum1111 · #9 09-12-2005, 06:50 PM

I agree, its probably the heater core and have fun changing that one. I did mine in about 3 hours with a minimum of foul language, next one I'm doing there's gonna be a keg waiting for me....

As for gas, cost me $36 this morning to fill up, and it wasn't empty, probably around 1/4 tank...

iamsodamnconfused · #10 09-12-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xeroinfinity

the stealership would probley run about $300-400. I have done them for $150-160, in a couple hours. Keeping parts, like screws and clips, organized for a quick'r install is the key to getting this job done.

How bigs your gas tank? Both my 99 and 01 only hav a 12gal tank. You can go here, http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...5&goto=newpost
We've been discussing this for a while now. You can see what gas prices hav been from several places.

MacCardwell may hav another piont. the drain on the heatercore housing can get plugd and drain inside onto the floor. Might get lucky, you never know. XI

Well, im gonna take my car to the stealership Wednesday night so they'll have all Thurdsday to work on it. I rather spend $400, then spend a few hours trying to fix something I know I aint gonna finish. But as far as the tank goes, I got a 15 Gal tank. I cost me $25 to fill it up, and it was only 1/2 full. Imagine if I would've filled it up from E, like I normally do... It be nice if they had a Grand Am Hybrid...

xeroinfinity · #11 09-12-2005, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamsodamnconfused

Well, im gonna take my car to the stealership Wednesday night so they'll have all Thurdsday to work on it. I rather spend $400, then spend a few hours trying to fix something I know I aint gonna finish. But as far as the tank goes, I got a 15 Gal tank. I cost me $25 to fill it up, and it was only 1/2 full. Imagine if I would've filled it up from E, like I normally do... It be nice if they had a Grand Am Hybrid...

Thats probley a good idea, at least you're on top of things, meaning youre pretty sure whats wrong and they shouldnt waste alot of time diagnosing things that arent bad. A hybrid has been on my mind latly too. Grand Am's are so damn heavy though, you would need to drop some weight so when you hav twenty batteries aboard it wouldnt bottom out.LOL!

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