This is the 4th coolant leak problem I have seen on this board in the last few days. I will again bet $$$ that it IS your coolant container. There are a few sure ways to find out. If you open your hood when the car is hot and smell coolant, your problem is likely a hole or crack in one of your hoses (upper/lower rad hose or any of the other hoses).

If the other symptoms are like this....You drive the car for a bit, the engine is warm.. you park the car. Coolant drains from under the passenger side, basically you will see it leaking down the side of the coolant conainer. You have a crack in the coolant container if that is the case. its 120 for a new one and can be installed yourself very easily from under the car. (2 bolts). In my opinion, what happens is the coolant container gets small cracks and when it is cold the container has contracted so it does not leak, when you stop the car its hot, the coolant goes back into the container and since the container expands, the coolant leaks (just my guess maybe its total bs).

had the same problem replacing mine fixed it.


The 3rd way you are losing coolant is through the exhaust, if thats the case, stick a fork in your engine, its done.


Good luck.

 

I had that problem too. The upper rad hose cracked where the metal braid connects it to the radiator. This started about 1 month after my coolant overflow was fixed. The way you can tell? Mine coolant hose problem started out as a VERY small leak. Every few days I need to fill up. Mine DID NOT leave any puddle on the ground. The coolant just was need to be filled every few days. Also the big thing to give this away? You will smell coolant in the engine bay when the engine is warm. I didnt know the problem and I replaced my coolant caps and the added pressure caused my hose to finaly give out and it looked like a fountain of coolant!
was 32.00 for the new hose and I replace myself.