Coolant Leak

DOYON8

MEMBER
2002 SATURN SL1
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
143,000 MILES

My wifes saturn again. 2002 SL, Cooling System. The problem before was that it was not holding presure, It was a bed cap, change that now it holds pressure and now on my drive to work it lost 1/4 gallon of coolant. I can not loacte the leak because it is everywhere on the drivers side on the underside of the car. The hoses seam to be all dry. Could it be the radiator, if so, I do I know for sure before I start taking the car apart. I dont want to fix that if it is really something else.
What could be the possible leaks of 1/4 gallon of coolant in 10 miles?

9 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

First of all thank you so much for your donation. The most common place's for that model to leak is on the driver's side below the upper hose on the radiator where the transmission cooler line goes on the radiator tank and on the passenger side on the engine from the water pump. The best way to find a leak if it's not leaking from those place's is to rent a coolant pressure tester pressurize the system and see where coolant is leaking from. You could add coolant dye but that get's messy.

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 7:11 PM

DOYON8

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I believe that is exactly where it is leaking from, under the upper hose on the drivers side. All the hoses are dry, I replaced the water pump over the summer. What could be leaking?

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 7:21 PM

SATURNTECH9

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If the hose isn't leaking and it's leaking from that area look at plastic tank where the transmission cooler line goes in the tank will bulge out and crack and leak it should be pretty easy to see what i'm talking about. Let me know what you find.

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 7:40 PM

DOYON8

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15 POSTS

There is a Black radiator, then a Silver radiator then the cooling Fan. There is a big black hose going from the drivers side of the engine to a black plastic on the drivers side that is mounted to the Silver radiator. The coolant is all over that Black thing on the side and the cooling fan. Is the black thing the plastic tank?

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:12 PM

DOYON8

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I see the cooler lines going into the tank, I think they could be bulged out, if thats the case, what needs to be replaced?

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:25 PM

SATURNTECH9

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Yes that black plastic is called the tank and the silver part is called the core.

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:27 PM

SATURNTECH9

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If that's the case then you have to replace the radiator there about 100 for that car.

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:28 PM

DOYON8

MEMBER
15 POSTS

Ok, I figured I would be replacing that, thanks, I will let you know if I have any other question. I worked at a honda dealership as a porter, and helped the mechanic out, and I I know I can handle replacing it. Plus I have the chilton book. Is there any tricks or road blocks that would come up on this saturn that you know about?

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Saturday, December 4th, 2010 AT 8:33 PM

SATURNTECH9