Coolant leak

Tiny
TGERNAEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 242,000 MILES
I have the car listed above gt.
i see coolant dripping onto the serpentine belt. It is running hotter than usual. Heater blows cold air when sitting still, temperature gauge will go up to 230 then back down and then does it again before heater starts blowing heat. Was on the expressway and temperature gauge said car was overheating, I pulled over and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then I started it to drive to the next exit and gauge was below 200, I drove it home (approximately 15 miles) on the regular surface streets and the gauge never went above 200. When I park the car and turn it off you can hear gurgling in the dash for like 30 seconds. I don't smell antifreeze inside the car and my windows do not fog up inside like it does when the heater core is bad.
Friday, July 9th, 2021 AT 4:57 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
More than likely this is a water pump issue as they have a weep hole in the bottom that will relieve pressure at times but when the seal behind it fails, it starts to drip coolant. Also, it could have overheated and pushed that seal out which will cause it to leak all the time.

Here are a couple guides that will help with this but we need to start with pressure testing the system to see if it will hold pressure and then inspect for the leaks while holding pressure:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-leak-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Below is the process from the manual that will help with replacing the water pump as I suspect that is the issue. Please run through this info and let us know what you find. Thanks
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Saturday, July 10th, 2021 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
TGERNAEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I took it to a shop and they told me it needs a bottom head gasket. And it's going to cost $900. I've heard of head gaskets and valve cover gaskets. But I wasn't aware that there's a top and bottom head gasket.
Does it sound like their making this up?
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Monday, August 2nd, 2021 AT 5:24 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
That is a new one on me. You only have one head gasket on each side. However, you have a lower manifold gasket. Did they give you an estimate? Did they say how they confirmed it?

Take a look at the info below on this and we can go from there. I suspect they are just not calling the gasket the correct name.
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Monday, August 2nd, 2021 AT 8:58 PM

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