Place newspaper under the car to locate the wet spot and look for white dried-coolant stains. A leak on the passenger side behind the wheel points to the water pump, while a leak at the front, often on the driver side, points to the radiator. Have a shop pressure-test the system if it has the Saturn coolant-bottle adapter, and inspect the pump from underneath using jack stands.
The owner of a 1998 Saturn SC1 reports a coolant leak without overheating and is unsure whether the radiator or water pump is failing. An expert explains that dried coolant leaves a white stain and that a leaking pump seal can fling coolant and obscure the trail. Newspaper under the car can show the leak location: passenger side behind the wheel suggests the pump, while the front, often the driver side, suggests the radiator. A garage pressure test and a safe underside inspection with jack stands are also recommended.
