Coolant leak

Tiny
SYLVER
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE
  • V8
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
A drunk driver crashed into my mother's truck and now the car leaks coolant underneath the radiator. My question is what is causing the leak? It leaks all along underneath the radiator, but the coolant comes out of a grey plastic part on these electrical wires (I will leave pictures below). Please help. I am fixing the truck for my mother.
Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 3:45 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
SYLVER
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
Picture taken underneath the car.
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
SYLVER
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Left side.
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
If this is oily and not just wet, the transmission cooler (or where the lines enter the radiator) may be leaking.

The fluid, may be getting into your wire looms where they touch the frame or where they cross a line or hose.

If it is definitely coolant and the only place you see it is on/ under the radiator (not a hose squirting from elsewhere) you may be looking for another one.

Maybe I can help, see if this is usable in your region.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2001-dodge-neon-milage-just-want-put-fliuds-their-locations

TRT41 and TRT30 also, you may have to sign into "Speed Perks" to use some of the codes, do dry runs at the checkout to insure the codes 'work' and which gives the better deal. Study the "tricks" I wrote in the link.

Keep us posted

The Medic

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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 4:18 PM
Tiny
SYLVER
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Need any more information let me know.
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Fluid appears to be red in your pictures, Is your coolant "Dex" (Red in color)? (Transmission fluid is most likely red too)

Regardless, is the leaking fluid oily or watery?

The Medic
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 4:28 PM
Tiny
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The fluid is dex cool.
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 4:53 PM
Tiny
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  • 21 POSTS
The fluid only comes out of the little gray things. All the hoses seem fine. Could it be the radiator?
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Gray things are called wire looms.

Basically they are plastic conduit with a split from beginning to end. This makes installing the wires inside easier.

We sort of cannot see the situation from here!

We do not know what sort of 'lick' the vehicle took/ where it took it/ how hard the lick was/ in addition to that how far did the damage spread to the inside of the engine compartment.

Yes, the coolant is coming from somewhere, and it is getting into the wire looms.

Since water runs downhill, it is either being squirted from a hose/ the engine may have some damage to the water jacket/ the radiator could be damaged/ It could be as simple as the plastic coolant reservoir got busted and from whatever source it is being transferred into the wire looms (which do not hook into the cooling system at all!)

If possible I would pressure test the cooling system and look for the leaks (with a pressure tester that you may be able to rent at an auto parts store). Or, if it will run, fill the cooling system up, fire up the vehicle and look for the leaks. If you have a few buddies, six eyes may be better than two when doing the search.

Sorry! You have to locate the leak, do not just concentrate on the radiator, look at anything that contains coolant.

Return here with news, preferably some that is good!

The Medic
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 AT 7:23 PM

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