Coolant Leak

[chase]

Ok so about a week ago The coolant light came on all of a sudden while driving. I pulled off at a gas station to check it out, since I keep coolant in the trunk. The thing was extremely low, and it wasn't earlier. So I filled her up and kept driving home. As I got home the light came on again. the resevoir empty. I filled it up, and ran the engine, trying to figure out where the leak was coming from under the car. Nothing was leaking, so i drove the car for a little then let it sit idlely running. This is when it started leaking bad, it was dripping straight from where the transmission bolts to the engine. Theres a little plate here that holds the two together I think. 4 bolts and 3 star bolts.

I have heard of people lifting their engines and pinching a pipe or cracking something, but I did neither. My brother suggested maybe the seal was bad.

Any ideas of what could be happening, and a cost for fixing this type of thing? Thanks

Chase


Update:

Ok so I put some more fluid in their and let it run for a little while. Nothing. So I rev'ed it for a minute no more then 3k. I get out and its pouring out.

Only its not coming from where I thought. It's dripping from much higher up, up where I can't really see. About level with where the exhaust pipes come to the engine, but back towards the middle of the car. Ie. Higher up on the transmission, but back farther slightly, from where the transmission connects to the oil pan. Hope this helps anyone trying to figure this out for me :D

Thanks

[PeaveyBassist]

There is a pipe at the back of the head where coolant goes through. There is a gasket there. Check that. It is really hard to get to while the engine is in the car I believe lol. There are only 2 10mm bolts on the pipe holding it to the head. A hose is on the end of that as well so it might have come off, or the hose might have broke or something. The hose goes from that pipe off of the head to the heater core.

Will

[Jand3rson]

Is the carpet on your driver's side floorboard wet? Check to see if it's damp with coolant. If it is, you're probably blown the heater core valve.

[chase]

Thanks for the replies. I will go check on the carpet. Peavey...I dont think I will be able to check what you suggest might be wrong on my own :D.

Here is a quick photo tho, with a circle around the area that the leak seems to be coming from. The picture is just of the engine bay, but the leak it from the top of the transmission somewhere around the circle. This probably won't help but it's worth a shot.

Chase

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/pollock/coolant_leak.jpg

[HST]

I put my money on heater hose.

[Jand3rson]

Well, those 2 hoses right below where you circled go through the firewall, and directly to the heater core. If your heater core valve is blown (in line between the hoses and the core itself), that's where you'll be losing it, is in down into the driver's side footwell. Or if there's a break in the hose before the firewall, in the engine bay, that would make sense, too. since both of those hoses hold coolant.

[chase]

I will check on those two hoses. Fortunately, there was no water on the drivers side floor. So I'm not sure what that rules out. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[Jand3rson]

I will check on those two hoses. Fortunately, there was no water on the drivers side floor. So I'm not sure what that rules out. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Well, you're looking for coolant, not water. And also, if it is down there, it just might not have soaked up into the carpet yet. It runs down the firewall and collects down under the carpet, on the bare metal floor. To be sure, I'd lift up the carpet on the driver's side, just to be positive there's nothing down there.

[EtaSport]

If its not in the car, I say hose, however, since it wasnt originally seen under the car, it could be heater core. You would definitely notice that much loss in the car if it was heater core however. When the valve is close, some coolant should flow through but probably not enough to empty the reservoir. So im going for a hose.

[chase]

Ok everyone, finally found the culprit. And yes, it is a bitch to get to, but I think I can get to it without too much difficulty. Of the two hoses going into the cabin area, it's the lower one. Where it comes out and goes back to the engine, is where its leaking. The hose has a nice slice in it.

Thanks again for all the help guys.