Losing coolant?
 

I'm inclined to believe that the radiator has finally bit the dust, since today when I got to work a good bit of coolant had made it's way out of the car and onto the ground. Upon inspection, the driver's side of the radiator is wet and as far as I can tell (in the pitch blackness of the parking lot) the leak is on the driver's side of the radiator.

My only thought is that the radiator has finally given up the ghost and it's time for a new one. The only other alternative seems to be the cap itself, but this seems extremely suspect, since I'm not sure what a failed cap seal would behave like, I'd think it would vent under normal operation, and not after I parked the car.

Any other ideas? Or is it time to goto mazdatrix and get a new radiator?

(oh, the puddle was on the driver's side in front of the wheel)

--matt

Re: Losing coolant?
 

There is still pressure in the system after you park the car... How far up the radiator is wet?

on the top, and then down the fan shroud.

Odd thing, the coolant temp was normal all throughout the night, and the low-level buzzer didn't come on during my drive to work.

--matt

What kinda shape are the hoses and clamps in?

only hose that's suspect as far as I know is the heater hose, but I'm replacing that soon anyway. Clamps all look good.

The rad's wet around the filler neck and on the left side. (the hoses both attach on the right) I'm guessing that the cap's not sealing well after I went to top it off just now, and that when the coolant cools off instead of being release to the overflow, it's venting.

not 100% sure tho. I hope I can find a rad cap in town, I don't want to order one.

hoping it's just a $20 cap and not a $200 radiator,
--matt

There's a thread call Radiators.com, from a couple days back got some good info in for you.

You can also get radiators repaired; just take it to a radiator shop they can normally fix small leaks, for a lot less then replacing the radiator.

I hate to say this, but I have a small hole in the top of my radiator. Its been there for about .. Well since I got the car 4-5 months ago. I patched it with JB Weld since I cant afford to get a new one right now. It works just fine. No leaks, and it only cost about 5.00.

Mike