Nothing but problems with the coolant system the last 2 days. First what was left of the small male nozzle on the AST (the one that connects to the main radiator cap) self destructed. I drilled out the nozzle (was male now female) and expoxyed a piece of 3/8" copper tubing (3" long) and reconnected the hose. Filled with coolant and let circulate for 30 mins.

Tonight I get into the car and the coolant light comes on. I put coolant into the reservoir and it leaked right the the garage floor. I can't believe the reservoir or the tube that runs from the reservoir is broken.

Can I disconnet the coolant system from the reservior? I was thinking of filling the engine with coolant, then plugging the inlet tube from the reservior to the AST and filling the AST with coolant. Will this work? And if I try to take the reservior out does it have better access from the top or the bottom of the car?

 

Bad idea. If you plug the line that goes from the AST to the coolant reservoir, you may create an overly pressurized system.

What I mean by that is when your engine gets hot, the coolant will expand and some may go into the reservoir. When the engine gets cold the coolant will contract and may pull some of the coolant back in.

You need to take out the reservoir and fix it or replace it. If the leak is not very fast, it may be the line from the AST to the reservoir. I've seen on some have a plastic coupling in the middle of the line where it may leak from.

 

That was my guess, on the tank and my bypass idea.

Its not the coupler. I have mine taped up.

The coolant comes out of the car almost as fast as it goes into the tank's neck portion.