Quick Question

[lilsweets3138]

Okay...everyone knows that I have been having problems with my car..the engine coolant light keeps coming on and I couldn't figure out why. SO I kept putting coolant and it would go away. The pattern was: every six months coolant was needed,every four months,every two months and then once a month.This has been going on through out last year which brings me to today. Light comes on and I check and it was EMPTY. I just stuck coolant in a week ago so there MUST be a leak. I want to purchase a brand new coolant overflow bottle and not a used one. Would a 1999 cavalier coolant bottle fit on a 1997? The next thing I will replace will be the overflow/radiator hose because I was able to pinch the hoses very eaisly and there is somekind of sludge on the hose. I am hoping that once all this is replaced that little red F*ckn light will stay off..lol. So let me know about the coolant bottle please. And thanks for your guys help.

-Christina

[brcidd]

Replacing parts won't help if you can't find the leak-- find the leak first- then replace what is bad.....But there is a much worse scenario- you may be leaking internally in the engine- as in a head gasket or intake manifold- does your oil look like a milkshake? do you see any steam out of your exhaust? The best thing that can happen is that you can find an external leak-- look back every time you exit the car- do you ever see any puddles or drips?

[lilsweets3138]

Alright, I thought I keep you guys updated. Well I'm tired of my car acting like a turd..overheating and the engine coolant magically disappearing etc. So I took it to have it preassure tested. I explained to the mechanic what the heck my car has been doing so he went looking at everything and couldn't see any leaks,then he started the preassure test and about 10 mins later the preassure did NOT go down which is a good thing! No leaks in the hoses nor the overflow tank. So now he is kind of boggled and I'm standing their like a tard. Then he starts looking under my car in the front and he lifts his hand up and BAM..my coolant starts squirting out and hissing and crap..lol I'm like omg! My car is broken for sure the coolant is in his eyes in his mouth and all his fellow mechanics were laughing. Thankgod it was a younger mechanic..like myself :P I told him I'm so sorry and he was laughing and said don't worry. So he explained to me that the "Petcock" you should have seen his face when he said it..I think he might like me or something so when he said it he was trying to hold his laugh in and I had to keep a straight face. I mean is that what it's really called? Anyways all this time that stupid thing wasen't in all the way so he drained the rest of it and put more coolant in and that fixed the problem.I would have never guessed that something so simple would be the problem. And I don't know how it came out I was thinking I hit a bump on the road or something. Well I just wanted to tell you guys incase someone has a problem like mine...check the Petcock hole too! hehe..
-Christina

[brcidd]

I'd still keep an eye on it-- if the petcock was leaking and was the cause of the leak- you should have seen the drips and puddles- the mechanic may have fiddled with it- and it came out- but coolant leaks don't start and stop on their own- I think it leaked because he wigglled it out- or broke it off- I'll bet a doughnut you will still have the mystery coolant loss........been there done that.....think about it.....

[muff34]

ya hmmm. Not to say he shot you a line of crap or that but the pressure test should have revealed that leak . There is a possibility that a "leak " may occur at "petcock" when engine is cold and the "o" ring is contracted, maybe that is your case.........hopefully.....lol. However I`d Keep an eye on the Petcock for any leaks for awhille