1999 Dodge Caravan Radiator

BTRFLY32

MEMBER
1999 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
124,000 MILES

My van is leaking a lot of anti-freeze. I use have to add a gallon every other day. The heater only works after I add more anti-freeze and only for a short while. I have heard it might be a head gasket and I have heard it might be the heater core. Could you please tell me which one it would be? Thank you.

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,709 POSTS

Hi:
If you're going through a gallon every day, there must be a major leak. Can you see where it is leaking from?

Also, the heater core will only work properly if the cooling system is full. Therefore, if you're loosing that much, it's getting low fast and causing the heater not to work properly.

Let me know where ir if you can see any leaks and we'll go from there.

Joe

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Friday, November 7th, 2008 AT 1:38 PM

BTRFLY32

MEMBER
2 POSTS

My father took a look, as much as he could and thought it might be near the water pump. He said the area around the water pump was covered in anti-freeze. He checked the hoses attached to the radiator and found no leak there. When I see the anti-freeze under the vehicle, the area that is covered on the ground seems to be just ahead of the front wheels and kind of centered. That's about as close as I can get to describing where it's coming from.

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Saturday, November 8th, 2008 AT 6:50 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,709 POSTS

Hi:
If you have coolant around the water pump, it's either the pump itself or the overflow bottle that is located above the pump. ATry to remove the overflow tank and check the bottom where the hoses connect to it. See if you can identify any leaks there.

Joe

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Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 2:05 PM