fortch03

The add coolant light started to go off and the heat gauge rised, which is when I decided to pull over. I popped the hood and the hose attatched to the radiator cap was popped off and it was spitting out steam. the car cooled down and was able to be driven, but i decided to park it when the heat gauge started to rise. i went to add more coolant and it would not go in, as i found it was coming out the bottom pretty much even with where i was pouring it in. Before I go doing anything major and panicking alot....what could my problem be?

GoRacer

iTrader: (2)

The magic 8 ball says: The hose attached to the filler neck that popped off (assuming it's the filler neck). Did it burst? Did the clamp get loose? Which hose? If you didn't reconect the hose, why did you try to refill it?

fortch03

The hose that is connected to the radiator cap, not the filler cap, was the one that popped off and was spitting out steam and coolant. I put it back on, and thought that that may have been the only problem. When I started to add coolant it was dripping all the coolant that I put in out the bottom. It started to rain out and I didn't want to risk driving it from where it was to my house, so I parked it in my friends driveway for the time being. I don't really know much more then that for now, but I was just wondering if what happened is common before I bug out and panic

GoRacer

iTrader: (2)

I don't remember their being a cap on the radiator on a 3rd gen'. There should be two caps (filler neck and AST). You could be describing the hose to the AST. I can't really tell by your description. Is the hose a small diameter or big? Is it connected to the AST? Can you take a picture? The filler neck has a cap on top and a thin hose to the AST just under it then on the bottom of it is a thick hose tot he radiator. If the black plastic AST has green on the seams then it needs to be replaced.

I was beling a lil sarcastic cause yer description is vaig. Can you go look at the car? If not look at it tomorow. In the mean time http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/ look over the engine section in the manual.

wrankin

Okay - I am assuming you mean the AST - the black tank with the relieve cap on top. This is on the drivers side. The other cap is on the filler neck on the passenger side. Saying "radiator cap" is not clear in this case since there is no cap on the radiator itself.

Not to sound too snide, but I believe you have found the problem. Hint: you have a hole in your cooling system.

If you are filling at your AST and coolant is dumping out the bottom I would say that it is very likely that you have cracked the AST where the lower hose connects.

If you cracked your AST then you will need to either replace it or bypass it. If you need to drive it a short way, you can plug the two medium sized lines that connect to the AST and then fill your cooling system. You will not have any pressure relief for the cooling system, so definitely don't leave it this way.

Do a search on "AST bypass" for details on a more permanent solution. Or go out and get a good replacement.

Good luck,

-bill