98 monte calro overheating

[themindbender]

Ok, the car just started overheating. I have a leak in the system but can't find it. When she overheats while I am driving(as in hits 260), I have pulled over and tried to let it cool. It seems as though it is vapor locked. I leave it on the road for about 8 hours while I am at work and get a ride back to her and she starts right up. The fans work when it's hot. I looked under the car and it appears the water is leaking from the transmission pan. I am investigating it further just checking to see if anyone has any idea. How could water get in the tranny pan? I don't have any issues with shifting however I just remembered that she does seem like she is sluggish, like the plugs are fowled.

[blazes9395]

Where about is the anitfreeze coming from, what side? This could be a gasket leak, waterpump leak, hoses, etc,etc. You have to pinpoint this and get it fixed, don't keep driving it, you run a very high risk of damaging the engine.

[themindbender]

Had the system pressure tested to find the leak. Intake gasket was the culprit. Not that I had the money to spend, but I didn't have the time to do it myself or the complete know-how to be confident in the work.
The end result was $690 to include, engine flush, radiator flush, oil change, air cleaner, valve gasket, intake gasket and "1 1/2 hours to clean the mud out", and labor to install everything. Not bad considering Midas quoted me $808 just for the gaskets and would have been an extra hour and a half to clean plus the flushes. The dirty dex-cool and oil mix made a significant mud as it was saved to show me.

[cwpc]

i had the same problem with my 98 monte 3.1L about 6 months ago. $ 745.00 total including state inspection and emissions. Not bad - had one shop quote 1100, plus emissions

[themindbender]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I had it checked out and it was a hole in the radiator. I don't know how because it was no where near the radiator that I saw the water. one bottle of the grey radiator powder fix stuff and no more problems. It was either that or $300 on a new radiator.