I was at the gym, parked on a slant, and noticed a stream of coolant flowing down the car. I drove home, scared shitless that my car is going to over heat, and checked the engine bay.

I didn't see any leaks from the top, so i looked underneath and saw that coolant was dripping onto the undertray and then dripping on the floor ( Picture here -> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...y/P5260082.jpg ). Then i looked through the nose of the car and saw that some coolant was dripping from the radiator area onto the condenser ( Picture here -> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...y/P5260078.jpg ).

I haven't driven the car since. No coolant has been dropping from the car so i'm assuming it only leaks while the car is on. I removed the intake pipes and didn't see anything fromt the top.

What do i need to do to get to the radiator? Any suggestions on what the problem might be? This sucks because my car has been down for a week and a half and i don't trust anyone to work on it (shops i mean). Anyways, thanks for any suggestions.

Clayton T.

 

Take out your radiator and get it pressure tested from any shop.... that will be easy or get your own pressure testing kit if you are skeptical....
If the radiator is leaking it maybe the plastic end tanks where it cracked over time..... then...just get a all aluminum radiator.....
and ALSO!!!~~~ make sure you get the aluminum coolant Air Separation Tank!!!~~~~~

 

Check my mods

I have a aluminum Radiator and a aluminum AST so i don't think those are the problems

 

could be a leak in a hose, i've seen that before same symptoms. When the car was off i caught a very slight leak from the hose connecting to the thermostat housing. When the car runs the water circulates via the water pump . Shutting the car off the pressure my rise and there is your leak. refill your coolant and let her get up to temp. shut the car off and watch, removing the under tray will make finding the leak easier....keep us updated

 

The thermostat seal (in the thermostat housing) can leak due to corrosion in the groove that the seal seats in - I had one do that. There was just a 1/8 dia spot that was corroded. BTW, I have always used and regularly changed EG antifreeze 50-50, so it can happen to anyone.

 

Could be a turbo coolant hose if you're still running stock turbos

 

upper coolant hose or any of the AST hoses.

 

Inspect your hoses. When the car is cool, the hoses will have contracted making the leak more difficult to find, if at all. When warm, they'll expand and as such may cause the noticed leaking.

Also, coolant leaking off of the undertray can be coming from a few places, so you'll have to start inspecting hoses a bit higher.

 

I'm going to borrow some of my friends lift equipment next week. I took off the intake. Is it okay to start the car without a intake to look for this leak? Thanks- Clayton T.

 

i had the very same problem when the FD was on a slant. in my case it turned ou to be the coolant reservior bottle

 

Aluminum radiators arent indestructable. They can leak also.

 

Yeah i know, but he made a reference to the plastic end tanks . . . .

 

You can take off your intake and run the car fine once you MAKE SURE nothing gets in it, but its not a necessary measure to find your leak. I'd remove the undertray, then inspect the hoses that go from the heater, engine and radiator first, as they're most likely to develop holes when heated. I've had leaks come from the hose leading to the overflow as well. If possible, try to source the leak when the car is cool.

Also, how constant are your coolant levels (keep an eye on that)? Any more leaks after letting the car sit when cool or warm since?

 

Oh no, i haven't had any leaks when the car is cool. It sits in the garage so the temp is always around a certain level. The car only leaks when it's on . . .

 

Could be the coolant line to the turbos, but most likely not if the condenser is wet. Coolant reservior bottle would only leak on the side it sits on. I would take out the undertray and check all your lines. My guess is thermostat housing.

Mikey

 

I would check the turbo coolant hoses first. They commonly leave coolant on the undertray (not sure if it ever gets on the condensor) and are also prone to failure. If they aren't the culprit check the rest of the hoses; here is a cooling system diagram:

http://www.autosportracetech.com/RX-7/coolingsystem.htm

It would probably be best just to replace all the hoses, that's what I'm doing this summer .

EDIT: One more thing, DON'T drive the car until this is fixed.

 

Thanks guys. That diagram is really going to help me out . . . .

I'll look in the shop manual to figure out which on is the T-stat housing.

 

If it is on the condensor it is probably the radiator itself, upper radiator hose, or one of the ast lines. What side of the condensor is it getting on?

 

Make sure you check out the hoses 1st. I would check in the order of:

1. radiator hoses
2. ast hoses
3. thermostat housing gasket (seal)
4. radiator pressure test
5. ect ect ect

That would be my order just because of the location of the leak.. Who knows, it may just be that your clamps got a little loose/brittle. (my 1st coolant leak)

Mikey

 

Cool guys, i'm doing this today I'll post on the forum if i have any troubles . . . any more suggestions will be appercated.

I've never worked a car before so this should be fun. My buddy is bringing all the lift equipment and is teaching me how to use it properly. Later-Clayton T.

 

good luck man, let us know what you find