Leakage!

sps SOHC · 01-08-2003, 06:09 PM

I'm driving gently down the road and my temp light starts flashing along with my low coolant light. I really really really don't want to deal with this again. Before it happened because my heater core went bad and it was leaking inside of my car and whenever I tried to turn the heat on. So I finally got that fixed (for a big price) and it's been fine since then (about 3 months ago). Now the damn thing is going low and I don't see any leaks anywhere, inside or outside the car. What's the dealio?

Dach · 01-08-2003, 11:00 PM

How's your rad cap? Could it be steaming away out of it? Can you smell a hint of antifreeze w/engine hot at idle w/the hood open?

ssicarman · 01-09-2003, 08:46 PM

Saturns can seep a good bit from the water pump without leaving an obvious wet spot on the ground. Have a look at the bottom of the water pump through the wheel well (remove the front shield) to see if you can see any dried aniti freeze residue or any wetness.

sps SOHC · 01-09-2003, 10:32 PM

ok. I think something maybe wrong with the cap or something because the lights start flashing when it's at the FULL Cold level. I have to fill it a ways above that for it to turn off. Also I don't think I have enough or any antifreeze in there since it was drained when I changed bypassed the heater core. But I'm sure the mechanic put some in there.

ssicarman · 01-09-2003, 11:44 PM

When the engine is cold the level in the surge tank should be at about the level of the seam in the surge tank. If the rad cap is not holding pressure then you can definetely loose coolant through there. The best way to tell is to get the cap pressure tested or just change it, depeneds on which is cheaper. If the cap is not holding pressure then you may be able to see dryed coolant on the surge tank. If the level is at or above the seam of the tank and the light is still flashing you may want to try cleaning out the tank to see if this helps. The level sensor could be sticking.

01-08-2003, 06:09 PM	#1
sps SOHC Master Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 4,036 sps SOHC's Photos 1996 SC2	Leakage! I'm driving gently down the road and my temp light starts flashing along with my low coolant light. I really really really don't want to deal with this again. Before it happened because my heater core went bad and it was leaking inside of my car and whenever I tried to turn the heat on. So I finally got that fixed (for a big price) and it's been fine since then (about 3 months ago). Now the damn thing is going low and I don't see any leaks anywhere, inside or outside the car. What's the dealio? ... -96 SC2 gets 35 mpg mix city/hw.

01-09-2003, 10:32 PM	#4
sps SOHC Master Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 4,036 sps SOHC's Photos 1996 SC2	ok. I think something maybe wrong with the cap or something because the lights start flashing when it's at the FULL Cold level. I have to fill it a ways above that for it to turn off. Also I don't think I have enough or any antifreeze in there since it was drained when I changed bypassed the heater core. But I'm sure the mechanic put some in there. ... -96 SC2 gets 35 mpg mix city/hw.

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01-08-2003, 11:00 PM	#2
Dach Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,033	How's your rad cap? Could it be steaming away out of it? Can you smell a hint of antifreeze w/engine hot at idle w/the hood open?

01-09-2003, 08:46 PM	#3
ssicarman Super Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Western Canada Posts: 10,470 ssicarman's Photos	Saturns can seep a good bit from the water pump without leaving an obvious wet spot on the ground. Have a look at the bottom of the water pump through the wheel well (remove the front shield) to see if you can see any dried aniti freeze residue or any wetness.

01-09-2003, 11:44 PM	#5
ssicarman Super Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Western Canada Posts: 10,470 ssicarman's Photos	When the engine is cold the level in the surge tank should be at about the level of the seam in the surge tank. If the rad cap is not holding pressure then you can definetely loose coolant through there. The best way to tell is to get the cap pressure tested or just change it, depeneds on which is cheaper. If the cap is not holding pressure then you may be able to see dryed coolant on the surge tank. If the level is at or above the seam of the tank and the light is still flashing you may want to try cleaning out the tank to see if this helps. The level sensor could be sticking.

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