Car is leaking radiator fluid

ILOVECAKE90

MEMBER
1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
2.2L
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

Okay, so my car has decided to leak all its fluid out. I have changed the thermostat and the water pump and yet it is still leaking and cannot find where it is coming from. And by leaking I mean all of the fluid is gone within a few minutes. Someone said check the freeze plugs. I have no clue where they/it is. Any advice or suggestions would be wonderful.

4 Replies

PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO

MECHANIC
1,853 POSTS

Use plain water until you find the leak.
Pour the water in and then look under the front end and look for the leak, if it is that massive of a leak you should be able to see it.
Freeze plugs are on the engine, all over it.

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Thursday, November 16th, 2017 AT 2:04 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,494 POSTS

Okay, if you add coolant does it run back out with the engine off? Or do you have to start it? Is it forming a puddle under the car? If yes where is the puddle? If you do not see it there, run your hand over the passengers side carpet up in the foot well, if I is wet then you have a bad heater core.

There are core plugs in multiple locations on the cylinder block, three are in line with the water pump down the side of the engine, another is inside the bell housing in the rear of the block.
(The gold items in the picture)

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Thursday, November 16th, 2017 AT 2:16 PM

ILOVECAKE90

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Okay, the water and this is the odd part it is everywhere. It only leaks when you turn it on and run it. Does not leak when in park, you have to actually be driving before it leaks. When we opened the hood the coolant was on everything on that side of the car down dripping everywhere. I checked the reservoir (sp?) To see if it had cracked no cracks. I am at a loss. I shall see in the morning when it is light out about the plugs.

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Thursday, November 16th, 2017 AT 3:20 PM

PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO

MECHANIC
1,853 POSTS

Rent or borrow a cooling system pressure tester, that way you should be able to see the leak with the engine off and engine cold, that way you will not get burned with hot water.
Check with your local auto-parts stores to see where you can rent or borrow a cooling system pressure tester from.

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Thursday, November 16th, 2017 AT 3:28 PM