Leaking coolent

[highvan]

Ok, i have a 96 cavalier 5 speed, with around 150,000 miles on it, nothing great, but it gets me to work and back... A few days ago i noticed my car was leaking anti-freeze, so i figured it must be a hose or maybe a small hole in the radiator, but after looking at it, it's neither. It seems to be a slow drip, but usually by morning, the low coolent light will be on when i start the car and by the end of the day, the car is heating up. I jacked up the front passenger side of the car and it seems to be coming from that side up around where the oil pan is, but its in a spot i can't really see. Like inbetween that piece of plastic they have there and where the belt runs... Does anyone know what the problem is or might be? And i could go about fixing it? Thanks

[Classicrocjunkie]

Is it coming from the water pump? They have a weep hole in them to let you know when they are failing.

try and get a picture if you can.

[mcalkins3]

Also keep an eye on the normal headgasket faliure spot, on the RH corner of the head of cylinder #4

[jakegday]

Originally Posted by Classicrocjunkie

Is it coming from the water pump? They have a weep hole in them to let you know when they are failing.

try and get a picture if you can.

yep, that is exactly what happened to me.
i went through hell and back trying to trace that leak, even replaced the coolant resevior

[wafrederick]

I agree with the headgasket too,checking that area.Put a pressure pump on and that is one way of finding the leak also.If it is the headgasket,replace it instead of patching it up with something

[highvan]

well, I changed the thermostat and the water pump, it;s still overheating... I did notice that the one hose that comes off the radiator closest to the battery, that hooks into the top right hand side of the motor seems like it's about to burst, like it's not letting the water pass through

[highvan]

also, if i take the thermostat out, it seems to be fine, other then the fact that i don't have heat from my heater

[jakegday]

then that would lead me to believe your new thermostat is bad, which is very common

[highvan]

Even though i changed it with a new one? Is there a chance the new one is bad too?

[jakegday]

Originally Posted by jakegday

then that would lead me to believe your new thermostat is bad, which is very common

yes, that is very common

[highvan]

Well, Ive tried 3 different thermostats and still the same thing. It overheats with it in and the radiator hose on the right beside the battery gets real tight, like it's blocked and is about to burst.... I take the thermostat out and its fine

[jakegday]

are you buying crappy $7-8 thermostats from autozone or somewhere else or are you buying quality $20-30 ones?

if it works fine without a thermostat that still leads me to believe the thermostat is the problem

[highvan]

after buying 3 different 8 dollar autozone thermostats, i went and paid 27 for one at a dealer... and YUP still does it.... I'll drive for about 5 min and it's in the red and boiling... The one hose by the battery that connects to the top of the motor, is always about to burst once it gets hot. SO there must be something else stopping the flow.. any more ideas?

[Jason/RKBA]

I'm not sure if it is possible but are you installing it backwards?

[highvan]

No, it will only fit one way...