Cooling issue thats stumping me

tonye96

LVC Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2008
Messages
36
Reaction score
0
Location
Chicago
I recently replaced the water pump and thermostat on my 96 Mark. I had a little bearing noise coming from the w/p and I figured it was time to go after 132k. The water pump was easy compared to the thermostat. I wound up breaking one of the bolts that holds the two halves of the housing together. $45 later, I had a new housing half and it was back together. I followed the instructions for properly bleeding the system as I found on this site, but now I have a small leak that I cannot pinpoint.

At first, the system would not hold pressure and the car would get up to the N in normal on the temp gauge. I found out that I had a faulty overflow tank cap. The temperatures improved, but the car is running at about the middle of the R. Prior to this, the car read just about the A. I looked underneath the car and now it appears that I have a pretty significant drip at idle.

The leak is coming from some place around the very front of the engine on the passenger side. Its right around the edge of the bottom side of the front bumper. It is not the radiator, the upper hose, the crossover tube, the water pump, or the t-stat housing (its on the opposite side anyhow). The hoses seem fine and are dry. I have verified that the fan is working on both high and low speeds. I cannot spot the heater hoses but Im not exactly sure where they are at. Since I live in Chicago and this winter has been hell, I cannot see what is melting snow and what is coolant underneath the car since every piece of ground is wet always. This is driving me up a wall. Anyone got any suggestions?
 
Are you absolutely sure it's not the radiator? It's very common for the plastic tank to leak where they're pressed onto the metal fins. That sounds like the problem I had. Replaced everything, but it still was running warm. Then I saw a tiny little puddle under the front passenger side of the car. I replaced the radiator with one from Radiator Barn for $123 with a lifetime warranty and free shipping.
 
Are you sure the drain thingy on the radiator is closed? There is a troth under the radiator and the coolant can appear to leak out either side.
 
Ive already checked the petcock on the radiator. It doesnt appear that anything is leaking from the radiator. Ive checked it a half a dozen times and it always seems to be dry. Its almost like the coolant is leaking further back towards the engine. Again, I cant be sure since its so nasty here in Chicago lately with all the snow. I guess I'll check the radiator again.
 
The only thing I can think of is to drain the system and pressure test it, and listen for the hiss of the air coming out. Or uv dye and a uv flashlight.
 
How can I pressurize it w/o coolant? Thats a thought.....

IDK about the UV.
 
That was one of the first things I checked. The front of the engine isnt wet either. It only comes off of the passenger side and not down the middle.
 
Could there be a crack where the trans cooling lines enter the rad?
 
Aren't the trans cooler lines on the drivers side?

Not on mine. Not that I am anything close to stock, but the lines themselves are on the passenger side. I dont think they crossover to the driver's side when they get to the radiator. Either way I would check where they enter the radiator.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Back
Top