Coolant Leak...

[Stopsign002]

Engine went into limp mode and all the that fun stuff. Pulled off to the side and saw coolant shooting out of this thing;

What is this? I also noticed that there was what looked like dried coolant on some of the parts near it making me think this has been happening for a bit unknown to me. I plan to fill the resovior and drive it to the radiator shop not too far down the road. Help? lol

 

[jjcool00]

Looks like the thermostat housing... easy fix you can do yourself. Change the thermostat and O-ring too while your at it.

 

[Stopsign002]

Is that something I would buy from the dealer? Or a parts place? I'm a pretty novice mechanic. I installed my own CA intake but thats the extent of it. Think I can handle this? Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[Stopsign002]

Gah, unfortunately I just dont have time to do the repair. Im going to take it to a radiator place I has recommended to me. Its not too far down the road. Do you think I can get it there just putting fluid in? Or should I just get it towed?

 

[1LoudLS]

if your leaking much, i wouldn't drive it too far at all.

now you apparently have at least one bad part, you pretty much have two options right now, replace just what failed (i would expect more parts to either fail as it gets taken apart, or fail very soon) and keep doing the job over and over as each other plastic part fails or bite the bullet and replace all the plastic parts at once. it seems they all tend to fail about the same time

here is one of the threads with a lot of the parts needed

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=76454&highlight=coolant+outlet

 

[joegr]

if your leaking much, i wouldn't drive it too far at all.

now you apparently have at least one bad part, you pretty much have two options right now, replace just what failed (i would expect more parts to either fail as it gets taken apart, or fail very soon) and keep doing the job over and over as each other plastic part fails or bite the bullet and replace all the plastic parts at once. it seems they all tend to fail about the same time

here is one of the threads with a lot of the parts needed

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=76454&highlight=coolant+outlet

If you can't do it yourself, have it all done now. The one-time labor charge will be less than the four or five separate labor charges to do it bit by bit. Also, your engine will thank you for not causing it to overheat several times.

 

[jmtiseo]

Push or have it towed to the shop and have them replace everything. As mentioned, don't nickel and dime yourself with repairs. Think of it as replacing some suspension components. You wouldn't replace just one shock would you? I mean you could but isn't general practice is at minimum to do them in pairs? Good luck with the repairs.

 

[Stopsign002]

Could someone write down a list of the parts I should have them replace. I'm willing to pay for the work to get done but I don't know exactly what I need to get done

 

[Stopsign002]

So;

Degas Bottle
Thermostat Housing
Thermostat
What else?

 

[scjmc]

Upper and lower radiator hoses. Water pump and serpinetine belt (if you want piece of mind about them.) Probably a good time to have the coolant system flushed and not just refilled.

 

[joegr]

Coolant outlet pipe.
The 90 degree pipe just behind the coolant outlet.
Check the small hoses and replace as needed.
Engine file cap.
Might as well replace the belt while everything is out of the way. (Coolant degrades it, and coolant did leak onto it from there.)

 

[Stopsign002]

Replacement car for the next few days... Pontiac Vibe.... f$ck....

 

[scjmc]

replacement car for the next few days... Pontiac vibe.... F$ck....

lol

 

[1LoudLS]

Could someone write down a list of the parts I should have them replace.

this is the most complete list ive found compiled together so far
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showpost.php?p=868498&postcount=1

basically, if coolant runs through it, and its plastic, its probably near it life expectancy if other parts are starting to fail.

as mentioned before, when my coolant outlet pipe broke, i found two more internal breaks when removing the old parts, then the upper radiator hose broke while i was removing it. the only parts i didn't replace at the same time were the lower radiator hose and the degas bottle, which I would have replaced except my funds were a little low at the time because the week before, my AR was hungry and I had just ordered 500 rounds of mil grade brass to feed it (the timing of this car always blows my mind, every single time something has broken, i have always just made big orders for other stuff days before)

 

[Stopsign002]

 

[M4rk]

Meh I'd always insist on a flatbed as these cars have no steering lock.

 

[Stopsign002]

Yeah, it was a little nerve racking but the guy came highly recommended so I let him do his thing. I followed him and he didnt even bottom it out once (which was sure was going to happen).