1995 850 GLT Coolant Leak passenger side After Repairs

AlexBHughes · Post by **AlexBHughes** » 20 Oct 2014, 14:00

Hello all!

A little background before I stat the main issue I need help with diagnosing. I've replaced the radiator, thermostat, overflow cap, Water Pump, Timing Belt, and Serpentine Belt recently, but to my dismay my car is STILL leaking coolant from under the passenger side wheel. I have also checked it when the car is running and leak is current, and i know for sure its not from the reservoir or the hoses attached the actual reservoir tank. I have also checked the water pump's weeping hole(just replaced WP 3 days ago) and no leak there. The radiator is in good shape(replaced 1 month ago) and all hoses attached to the actual radiator are fine. I have never had the car overheat on me before, but I am not sure about the previous owners. SO, this leads me to believe it might be a hose of some sort.. I've checked for dampness in my passenger side floor and no dampness, so i think that rules out the heater core. I checked the lines near the back of the motor and there isn't any wetness back there, just down below where I said the leak is(passenger side wheel area)

WHAT ELSE COULD IT POSSIBLY BE?! I've put a lot of time and money into the car recently to get rid of this leak and it is still leaking significantly.

My issue is I do not understand where else it could possibly leak from. Is there a flow chart of the cooling system somewhere that will help me pinpoint and diagnose where the leak is coming from?

If there is anybody that can relate, help, or give advice I would be forever in your debt!

I love this car and want to keep it on the road as long as possible.

Thanks!

Alex

Post by **rspi** » 20 Oct 2014, 17:03

On the NON TURBO car, the only things on that side are the bottle and water pump. You can also have a thermostat housing.

Duake · Post by **Duake** » 20 Oct 2014, 17:41

Not sure if this helps, but I kind of have the same issue. I actually thought that oil was dripping out somewhere, but found that my coolant was leaking in the same place. I have an S70 Turbo, and the leak seems to be the connecting hose from the back of the engine. It is dripping on the large metal "back plate". I was actually going to replace it today, but didn't have time. If it is leaking, there should be that white/yellow corrosion stuff by the hose.

AlexBHughes · Post by **AlexBHughes** » 20 Oct 2014, 23:02

rspi wrote:On the NON TURBO car, the only things on that side are the bottle and water pump. You can also have a thermostat housing.

Thanks for the reply! So where does the bottom hose from the reservoir tank lead to? I can't seem to figure that out. I've watched it while idling after being at operating temp and it doesn't seem to come from the reservoir tank.. Is there not something near or around the water pump that might also leak?

I think a flow chart of how the coolant circulates in the system would help. Do you know by chance?

Thanks!

AlexBHughes · Post by **AlexBHughes** » 22 Oct 2014, 14:32

UPDATE!

So the past two days it has not leaked(knock on wood!), so i am leaning towards to possibility of it just working out the air bubbles within the pressurized coolant system. After I replaced the water pump i just filled it up and took off. Now this is the fact that I overlooked, if there are air bubbles within the system (below the coolant), once it gets to operating temp, its going to rise the coolant up through the reservoir and release the air bubbles. In doing so, the current coolant in the system will have to replace the volume of the air, thus leading to a lower coolant in the reservoir. SOOOO.. It overflowed a few times to work out the air bubbles, and i closely watched it to make sure to keep the level of coolant in between the min and max, and now it seems to be okay.

I will follow up if it continues to leak!

Post by **rspi** » 22 Oct 2014, 15:25

I don't really understand what you are saying, however, this system doesn't hold much air. It burps once and that's it. If you are having level fluctuation, you likely have an issue with the cap on the reservoir. Look closely at the reservoir cap and make sure it doesn't have any cracks in it, top and bottom. Only remove it if the system is cold.

AlexBHughes · Post by **AlexBHughes** » 24 Oct 2014, 23:39

Okay scratch everything I previously said.

I parked my car, let it cool down, and noticed im missing coolant. I filled it to a bit above the min lvl, and looked uner my car to see a leak! I quickly took off the timing belt cover to inspect and did not see any dampness around the water pump. Next I turned the wheel, opened the rain guard in the wheel well and saw that it was leaking around the harmonic balancer, and around where the timing belt wraps around that bottom crank( not sure what it is).

So would that be the crankshaft seal? or oil pump? Im really not sure what is all down in that region that could cause coolant to leak(and not any oil, i checked).

Post by **rspi** » 25 Oct 2014, 05:30

A cracked block. I would make REAL SURE that coolant from the water pump is not running down there first.

AlexBHughes · Post by **AlexBHughes** » 27 Oct 2014, 12:01

rspi,

could it really be a cracked block???? UGH.

Ill have to double and triple check. I ran my fingers around the rim of the water pump and didnt see any signs of coolant. where could the crack be? what would it look like? any good methods for checking besides observational? im assuming if it is a cracked block, the car is totaled.

weird thing is that it will leak, then it will stop for two days, then leak again. what does that mean?

AlexBHughes · Post by **AlexBHughes** » 27 Oct 2014, 12:04

also, on that side the the car, there is literally only two places that coolant could come from? the water pump and reservoir tank, correct? What about the seals? like camshaft, exhaust seal, intake seal, etc? anything I could check before ruling it is a cracked block? also, how would I know for sure its a cracked block????

thank you