Coolant leak
Hi,
just noticed a puddle under my car, coolant. It's a Civic LX, 1988, 136kmiles. Any ideas on the following symptoms: - the source of the leak appears to be the upper radiator hose. where it attaches to the radiator. The connection "looks" tight, though. - coolant level is (still) OK, the coolant reserve container is almost empty but the radiator is filled to the brim. - after letting the car idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the radiator fan did *not* come on. The coolant gauge goes up to the normal operating temperature (slightly below center) and stays there. The fan refuses to come on. - after idling for a while, I was able to observe coolant leaking from where the upper radiator hose meets the radiator. No MIL, no fault codes stored. I recently had the PCV and O2 sensor replaced, though I doubt it has anything to do with this new symptom. Any input appreciated, thanks group, TomB -- to send e-mail, remove the socks from the address shpongloidsock@hotmail.comsock |
Re: Coolant leak
In article <c74fdh$hrv80$1@ID-207360.news.uni-berlin.de>, "tomb"
<me@privacy.net> wrote: > Hi, > > just noticed a puddle under my car, coolant. It's a Civic LX, 1988, > 136kmiles. Any ideas on the following symptoms: > > - the source of the leak appears to be the upper radiator hose. where it > attaches to the radiator. The connection "looks" tight, though. > > - coolant level is (still) OK, the coolant reserve container is almost empty > but the radiator is filled to the brim. > > - after letting the car idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the radiator fan did > *not* come on. The coolant gauge goes up to the normal operating temperature > (slightly below center) and stays there. The fan refuses to come on. > > - after idling for a while, I was able to observe coolant leaking from where > the upper radiator hose meets the radiator. > > No MIL, no fault codes stored. I recently had the PCV and O2 sensor > replaced, though I doubt it has anything to do with this new symptom. > > Any input appreciated, > thanks group, > TomB It could be the water pump. Open the hood and watch it idle. See if you see any coolant coming from the water pump. Also turn on the heater and watch the heater hoses. If you see coolant on the upper radiator hose, I advise you to replace it since it could have a very small hole that is hard to see. I also advise you to leave the engine running after you have driven the car for over 10 miles. Open the hood to see if you see any leaks from any hoses or the radiator or water pump. In some cases, water does not leak until the coolant is really hot. -- NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS CREED We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice. We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people. Which of the above three groups are you a member of?? |
Re: Coolant leak
"Jason" <Jason@nospam.com> wrote in message news:Jason-0305040823560001@pm5-broad-100.snlo.dialup.fix.net... > In article <c74fdh$hrv80$1@ID-207360.news.uni-berlin.de>, "tomb" > <me@privacy.net> wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > just noticed a puddle under my car, coolant. It's a Civic LX, 1988, > > 136kmiles. Any ideas on the following symptoms: > > > > - the source of the leak appears to be the upper radiator hose. where it > > attaches to the radiator. The connection "looks" tight, though. > > > > - coolant level is (still) OK, the coolant reserve container is almost empty > > but the radiator is filled to the brim. > > > > - after letting the car idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the radiator fan did > > *not* come on. The coolant gauge goes up to the normal operating temperature > > (slightly below center) and stays there. The fan refuses to come on. > > > > - after idling for a while, I was able to observe coolant leaking from where > > the upper radiator hose meets the radiator. > > > > No MIL, no fault codes stored. I recently had the PCV and O2 sensor > > replaced, though I doubt it has anything to do with this new symptom. > > > > Any input appreciated, > > thanks group, > > TomB > > It could be the water pump. Open the hood and watch it idle. See if you > see any coolant coming from the water pump. Also turn on the heater and > watch the heater hoses. If you see coolant on the upper radiator hose, I > advise you to replace it since it could have a very small hole that is > hard to see. I also advise you to leave the engine running after you have > driven the car for over 10 miles. Open the hood to see if you see any > leaks from any hoses or the radiator or water pump. In some cases, water > does not leak until the coolant is really hot. Thanks for the input, Jason, I couldn't find any other leak when apart from the one I mentioned when I was looking yesterday. Will have another go at it today. > -- > NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS CREED > We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice. > We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people. > Which of the above three groups are you a member of?? I hope one of the first two ;) -- to send e-mail, remove the socks from the address shpongloidsock@hotmail.comsock |
Re: Coolant leak
Jason wrote:
| In article <c74fdh$hrv80$1@ID-207360.news.uni-berlin.de>, "tomb" | <me@privacy.net> wrote: | || Hi, || || just noticed a puddle under my car, coolant. It's a Civic LX, 1988, || 136kmiles. Any ideas on the following symptoms: || || - the source of the leak appears to be the upper radiator hose. || where it attaches to the radiator. The connection "looks" tight, || though. || || - coolant level is (still) OK, the coolant reserve container is || almost empty but the radiator is filled to the brim. || || - after letting the car idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the radiator fan || did *not* come on. The coolant gauge goes up to the normal || operating temperature (slightly below center) and stays there. The || fan refuses to come on. || || - after idling for a while, I was able to observe coolant leaking || from where the upper radiator hose meets the radiator. || || No MIL, no fault codes stored. I recently had the PCV and O2 sensor || replaced, though I doubt it has anything to do with this new || symptom. || || Any input appreciated, || thanks group, || TomB | | It could be the water pump. Open the hood and watch it idle. See if | you see any coolant coming from the water pump. Also turn on | the heater and watch the heater hoses. If you see coolant on the | upper radiator hose, I advise you to replace it since it could have | a very small hole that is hard to see. I also advise you to leave | the engine running after you have driven the car for over 10 | miles. Open the hood to see if you see any leaks from any hoses | or the radiator or water pump. In some cases, water | does not leak until the coolant is really hot. Just to follow up... took in the car today, they did a pressure test. Looks like the plastic part at the top where the hose connects is cracked :/ Oh well, new radiator it is, then... Thanks again for the feedback! TomB -- to send e-mail, remove the socks from the address shpongloidsock@hotmail.comsock |
Re: Coolant leak
"tomb" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message news:c76g7l$b0rc$1@ID-207360.news.uni-berlin.de... > Jason wrote: > | In article <c74fdh$hrv80$1@ID-207360.news.uni-berlin.de>, "tomb" > | <me@privacy.net> wrote: > | > || Hi, > || > || just noticed a puddle under my car, coolant. It's a Civic LX, 1988, > || 136kmiles. Any ideas on the following symptoms: > || > || - the source of the leak appears to be the upper radiator hose. > || where it attaches to the radiator. The connection "looks" tight, > || though. > || > || - coolant level is (still) OK, the coolant reserve container is > || almost empty but the radiator is filled to the brim. > || > || - after letting the car idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the radiator fan > || did *not* come on. The coolant gauge goes up to the normal > || operating temperature (slightly below center) and stays there. The > || fan refuses to come on. > || > || - after idling for a while, I was able to observe coolant leaking > || from where the upper radiator hose meets the radiator. > || > || No MIL, no fault codes stored. I recently had the PCV and O2 sensor > || replaced, though I doubt it has anything to do with this new > || symptom. > || > || Any input appreciated, > || thanks group, > || TomB > | > | It could be the water pump. Open the hood and watch it idle. See if > | you see any coolant coming from the water pump. Also turn on > | the heater and watch the heater hoses. If you see coolant on the > | upper radiator hose, I advise you to replace it since it could have > | a very small hole that is hard to see. I also advise you to leave > | the engine running after you have driven the car for over 10 > | miles. Open the hood to see if you see any leaks from any hoses > | or the radiator or water pump. In some cases, water > | does not leak until the coolant is really hot. > > Just to follow up... took in the car today, they did a pressure test. > Looks like the plastic part at the top where the hose connects is > cracked :/ > > Oh well, new radiator it is, then... > > Thanks again for the feedback! > TomB > -- > to send e-mail, remove the socks from the address > shpongloidsock@hotmail.comsock > Just saw your thread. Same thing happened to me on my 91 accord. The crack was so small that I could barely see the thin stream sneaking out, just a magical puddle forming on the underside of my hood. I was able to get a new top and bottom and a rodout on my old one for under $100 at a local radiator shop (I took the radiator to them, did all other work myself) IIRC, I saved about $200 over a new radiator and have had no problems since (5 years now) HTH |
Re: Coolant leak
Ricky wrote:
| Just saw your thread. | | Same thing happened to me on my 91 accord. The crack was so small | that I could barely see the thin stream sneaking out, just a magical | puddle forming on the underside of my hood. I was able to get a new | top and bottom and a rodout on my old one for under $100 at a local | radiator shop (I took the radiator to them, did all other work | myself) | | IIRC, I saved about $200 over a new radiator and have had no | problems since (5 years now) That sounds about right; I read your post too late, plus felt like I didn't want to be bothered with messing with it. Took it in, had it replaced for $352 (parts, labor, taxes, yadda...) and am done with it now. Thanks for the feedback ;) |
Re: Coolant leak
Look at your radiator carefully, my father-in-law and I both had 90 Civics
that the plastic tops of the radiator had hairline cracks in them. Probably caused by old age and leaning on top of them while working on the motor. They seemed to get brittle with age. I tried for a year to patch it different ways but had to eventually replace it. > From: "tomb" <me@privacy.net> > Organization: heh, none ;) > Newsgroups: alt.autos.honda > Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 20:52:33 -0700 > Subject: Coolant leak > > Hi, > > just noticed a puddle under my car, coolant. It's a Civic LX, 1988, > 136kmiles. Any ideas on the following symptoms: > > - the source of the leak appears to be the upper radiator hose. where it > attaches to the radiator. The connection "looks" tight, though. > > - coolant level is (still) OK, the coolant reserve container is almost empty > but the radiator is filled to the brim. > > - after letting the car idle for 10 or 15 minutes, the radiator fan did > *not* come on. The coolant gauge goes up to the normal operating temperature > (slightly below center) and stays there. The fan refuses to come on. > > - after idling for a while, I was able to observe coolant leaking from where > the upper radiator hose meets the radiator. > > No MIL, no fault codes stored. I recently had the PCV and O2 sensor > replaced, though I doubt it has anything to do with this new symptom. > > Any input appreciated, > thanks group, > TomB > -- > to send e-mail, remove the socks from the address > shpongloidsock@hotmail.comsock > > |
Re: Coolant leak
cavetrekker wrote:
| Look at your radiator carefully, my father-in-law and I both had 90 | Civics that the plastic tops of the radiator had hairline cracks in | them. Probably caused by old age and leaning on top of them while | working on the motor. | They seemed to get brittle with age. I tried for a year to patch it | different ways but had to eventually replace it. Thanks for your reply, and you were spot on (as you might have seen from my other posts to the thread). It was a hairline crack, not visible, but obviously leaking when pressurized. I didn't wait for a year to replace it but did it straight away... |
Re: Coolant leak
I just found this site again and didn't have the posts listed in order to
see some one had already replied. I've had 9 Civics over the years and have had pretty good luck with all of them. > From: "tomb" <me@privacy.net> > Organization: heh, none ;) > Newsgroups: alt.autos.honda > Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 22:36:57 -0700 > Subject: Re: Coolant leak > > cavetrekker wrote: > | Look at your radiator carefully, my father-in-law and I both had 90 > | Civics that the plastic tops of the radiator had hairline cracks in > | them. Probably caused by old age and leaning on top of them while > | working on the motor. > | They seemed to get brittle with age. I tried for a year to patch it > | different ways but had to eventually replace it. > > Thanks for your reply, and you were spot on (as you might have seen from my > other posts to the thread). It was a hairline crack, not visible, but > obviously leaking when pressurized. I didn't wait for a year to replace it > but did it straight away... > > |
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