Good Luck!

I have a coolant leak, but it's not the AST...
 

Well, I smelled something funny as I got out of the car, but kinda neglected it. When I came back 2 hours later, I turned on the car, and the coolant buzzer went off. I look under the car, and coolant was dripping. I was hoping it was the AST, but it wasn't. It was bone dry. I fill up the coolant at the coolant neck, and I got a little less than a 1/4 gal. in the car, and I limped it back to the parking structure (1/4 mile away). When it was there, though, it leaked quite a bit (created a small puddle).

Anyways, it could either be two things (radiator end tanks or coolant hose(s), right? At any rate, I have midterms up the arse this week, along with HUGE projects... so I won't get around to fixing it for at least a week. I'll put some UV dye in the coolant system, let it run for a bit, then see what it is. Let me know what you guys think about my plan of action, and wish me luck on my midterms.:)

Usually its the hoses they develop small cracks, I used to get them all the time. Usually the best thing to do is warm the car up and then shut it off then investigate where the fluid is coming from. Usuaklly you can here a his. You dont need any of that UV stuff, You wll have to replace the hose. What I did to stop the leaks was to do a fan mod, it kept the car cooler and thus the coolant system didnt have that much preassure in it. Good luck.

I did hear some minor hissing after I turned it off for the 2nd time -- I'm really hoping it's the hoses and not the radiator end tanks. Would it leak much worse if it were the radiator end tanks? As for the hoses, can I pick them up at the local AutoZone/Napa/Kragen, or do I have to special order them?

When my end tank went it was a very slow leak. I would try your UV dye plan.

Well, it could also be the endtanks, and without the UV dye, it would be hard to tell. I might as well be sure about it and use that $5 bottle of UV dye... it'll save me much more in asprin.

I had a very similar problem and it turned out to be the gasket between the water pump and the engine block. The worst part of all is the $20 gasket shouldnt be a $200-300 repair. Mazda Dealers should only be used to shampoo my crotch.

Do not let the dealer shampoo your crotch . They will screw that up too .

If you heard a hiss the coolant was hitting something hot. Check around the turbos.

I'm not sure if that is my problem, as I had the motor rebuilt before (1.5k miles ago), and isn't that gasket part of the OE gasket kit?

Just go to a local autoparts store that rent out coolant pressure-testers, & get the import cap adapter. It should be free, w/only a refundable deposit after you return it. Pump the system up to 18psi, & check for noise/wetness. Also by now, you should have a crusty white trail coming from where the leak is, so look for that. Isn't Adam C by yoru area? Give him a holler :)

Don't do 18 PSI, the coolant would start coming out of the 13lb caps.

Man look for the hissing sound, If you use the UV die and its sparaying you may have a really hard time finding it. Also if its hissing that doesnt mean that its hitting something hot, its just that the coolant is preasurized and when its coming out a small hole it hisses, cuz its spraying. you should just listen for the hiss and follow the sound.

What shops have the upper and lower radiator hoses in stock?

Also, do you guys think it might be the turbo coolant hose or the heater hose? The leak seems to collect on the radiator duct, so I'm not sure if it could be those hoses. (sorry for the double post, I couldn't edit my previous one)

i have the same problem like yours... mine was the radiator end tanks... it start hissing when its warm and pressured... it will start to drip slowly.

The end tanks are plastic so i guess its time to look for a new radiator...

Ray Crowe at Malloy Mazda should have them in stock. I just purchased a set from him two weeks ago.

You keep askin what we think it is. Well all anyone on here can do is guess. Untill you LOOK and actually see where its coming from nuthing anyone on here says will help.