2000 impala coolant leak 3.4L

[Pheezie]

I have a coolant leak and not sure where it is coming from all I see it leaking from right in front of the trans. pan I looked from the top of the engine but can't tell where exactly its from. I flushed my system about 3 mos ago had a brown sludge in the neck on the rad cap and in the resivor. noticed the leak started about a month ago. I was told by someone that it might be a freeze plug. Does anyone have any ideas?

[57chevyragtop]

Welcome to Automotive Forums Pheezie! You have asked a difficult question to answer for your first post. Short answer is yes it could be a freeze plug. The best advice I can give you is this: With the engine cool, you will need to feel around the the hoses underneath on the right side to start...where the crossover pipe from waterpump connects to heater hose, (all connect points) top radiator hose connects to thermostat, look carefully at housing base. Sometimes you just can't see but need to feel for wet areas to pinpoint source of leak. Leaks can migrate around engines in strange patterns so are very hard to find. There is a weep hole in back side of waterpump try to feel around there as well. If that is source the waterpump bearing seal is bad and will need to be replaced. You mention you flushed the system and I am assuming you did this yourself and replaced with dexcool and did the proper bleed valve procedure when refilling. Just try to eliminate as many areas that are simple to fix first. One question I have is mileage on your 3400?

[Pheezie]

Originally Posted by 57chevyragtop

Welcome to Automotive Forums Pheezie! You have asked a difficult question to answer for your first post. Short answer is yes it could be a freeze plug. The best advice I can give you is this: With the engine cool, you will need to feel around the the hoses underneath on the right side to start...where the crossover pipe from waterpump connects to heater hose, (all connect points) top radiator hose connects to thermostat, look carefully at housing base. Sometimes you just can't see but need to feel for wet areas to pinpoint source of leak. Leaks can migrate around engines in strange patterns so are very hard to find. There is a weep hole in back side of waterpump try to feel around there as well. If that is source the waterpump bearing seal is bad and will need to be replaced. You mention you flushed the system and I am assuming you did this yourself and replaced with dexcool and did the proper bleed valve procedure when refilling. Just try to eliminate as many areas that are simple to fix first. One question I have is mileage on your 3400?

Just over 103,000 miles yes replaced with dexcool

[richtazz]

If it's leaking around the transmisison side (driver's side), I'd look at the coolant transfer pipe that runs across the front of the engine from the waterpump area to the drivers side and under the throttle body. This pipe can rust out, and there are spring clamps that attach two small hoses to the bottom of the throttle body that can also lose tension and start leaking. Also check the tube that attaches to the intake on that side going to the heater core. There is an o-ring on that pipe where it enters the intake that can start to leak.