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2001 Cruiser Base 2.4 112k
Car overheated yesterday, pulled over and saw green coolant leaking. BUT - I can't tell where it's leaking from. A few minutes earlier I heard a metallic sound as I was driving, thought I ran over a piece of metal, but now I'm wondering if a line might have broken. Added plain water this morning to radiator, didn't take much, then ran the car for about 20 minutes. The temperature gauge hasn't gone past midpoint. Any ideas where to check for a leak, should I run the car for a longer time, does the water pump come on only after the engine reaches a particular temp. I'm wondering why the leak didn't reappear after running the engine for 20 minutes. I don't intend to drive the car until I can figure this one out. Last edited by MikeGlosta; 16 Jul 2015 at 07:35 am. |
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I'll try that suggestion once again. Nothing obvious when I ran the car earlier but certainly worth a second shot.
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If you have a coolant leak when it dries it leaves a white powder film so if its still leaking look and see if you can see this white powder film anywhere.
Common leaks are at the plastic housing gasket located where you fill it up with coolant and the hose between the radiator cap and overflow tank. If you still can't find it you can do a coolant pressure test. Check all the coolant hoses including the heater hose. The heater coil can leak but usually a small leak. |
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I've run the car twice for 20 minutes each time, turned it off and have not found any leaks - but the car will overheat if I allow the needle to reach the H.
Is there a way for me to check the water pump and/or thermostat without a major breakdown of the housing where the timing belt - pump is located? |
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If it's your head gasket, you'll never see a leak.
Pressure test and have a test for exhaust in coolant.
__________________
"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." Isaac Asimov" '05 Limited Turbo Lite, (Silver, of course)4-wheel ABS, Sunroof, Spoiler. Mods: E&G Classic grill, K&N FIPK, BTG duals, rear lowered 1.5", LED washer lights, $20 catch can, Aoogah horn, Weatherflectors, Sunroof Deflector, Fuzzy Dice, rear logo flames, rear pinstripe graphic, Gen3 Taillights, rear sway bar, hood struts, Strut bar. Traded in '02 Silver Touring Edition w/87,000 miles |
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There are a few things to check before having a block test done.
Does your radiator fan work? There is a high and low speed on the radiator fan. Does it come on when it starts to overheat? Does it overheat without the A/C running? To check to see if the thermostat is opening up check the coolant temperature in the upper and lower radiator hoses using a non contact infrared thermometer with laser targeting. Does your PT Cruiser overheat if you take it on high speeds over 50 miles per hour? If it does overheat at high speeds and your thermostat is okay you might want check your radiator. |
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Running (read: idling) an engine does not produce much heat. Heat is required to create pressure in the coolant system. Typically leaks get worse or expose themselves when the system pressurizes. Here's an article I wrote on overheating to give you some more context: Overheating Issues |
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If you see coolant then simply find where it is leaking from. The thermostat housing to the block is one good place to check which is hard to see unless you are really looking or remove the intake to get a view. A slow leak here is hard to find because it leaks onto the block and evaporates and never hits the ground or the underside of the engine. I'd be really sure there isn't a leak here before I think about a water pump or head gasket. The symptoms mentioned sound like a slow leak.
As for never using plain water, it isn't ideal to use tap but if that is all you have and your only other option is nothing, then do it. Same for the green vs HOAT argument. Some coolant in your system is better than not enough, and if you are forced to use tap or cheap green anti-freeze, you just have to follow-up with a flush and re-fill with the right stuff. |
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coolant leak, overheating |
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