Not that long ago I posted a problem with my radiator leaking and so we followed advice and replaced the radiator. We flushed flushed flushed and then reconnected the hoses. Last night we took it out to test and when we stopped after the engine had a chance to run, we saw the coolant and/or fluid dripping from the bottom of the vehicle. Today Hubby went underneath the 96 Cruiser and said the leaking fluid looked like it was coming from the radiator again. What could this be???? We just replaced the radiator with a new one. Help?
New radiator but is leaking again
- Thread starter turtlesoup
- Start date
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Can he pin down exactly where the leak is coming from? If you didn't replace any of the hoses connecting to the radiator those could be the culprit.
Wipe the leak down or power wash it and trace where the leak is?
Did you hook up the overflow hose from the radiator to the overflow tank?
Did you replace the radiator cap with a new one?
Did you hook up the overflow hose from the radiator to the overflow tank?
Did you replace the radiator cap with a new one?
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- May 3, 2009
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if you don't see anything up along the top edges then could be the lower hose connection (passenger side assuming left hand drive). Either where hose connects to radiator or about 8-10 inches back where the hose fits to a metal pipe that curves up to the water pump.
If you can get the bottom plate off that is just above the steering dampener (4 bolts) it will give you good view of the hose connections underneath. Follow advice to clean things up a bit and it should make it more obvious.
If you can get the bottom plate off that is just above the steering dampener (4 bolts) it will give you good view of the hose connections underneath. Follow advice to clean things up a bit and it should make it more obvious.
IF you didn't replace the radiator cap and the old one was bad, the pressure inside radiator has to go somewhere and will leak out the place with the least resistance and that could be an old hose. Its probably not the problem but worth a check.
That said, I need to go get a new cap tomorrow.
That said, I need to go get a new cap tomorrow.
Like I said, clean the area up BUT when you you run the motor, the fan will blow the coolant all over the place. You need to pressure test the radiator, that way you can see the coolant leak out with no interference from the fan.
How to pressure test radiator, all you need is you, your hubby and a camera:
1) remove radiator (motor must be cold)
2) have hubby put lips over radiator fill hole (note the motor must be cold)
3) have hubby blow
4) look for leaks
5) take pic of hubby blowing radiator and post on Mud and we will tell you what your problem is.
How to pressure test radiator, all you need is you, your hubby and a camera:
1) remove radiator (motor must be cold)
2) have hubby put lips over radiator fill hole (note the motor must be cold)
3) have hubby blow
4) look for leaks
5) take pic of hubby blowing radiator and post on Mud and we will tell you what your problem is.
x2. I replaced all the hoses except for the small one on top driver side of the rad on my '97. The leak was minimal but was enough to make it look like my new OEM rad was leaking at the bottom.
- Thread starter
- #8
x2. I replaced all the hoses except for the small one on top driver side of the rad on my '97. The leak was minimal but was enough to make it look like my new OEM rad was leaking at the bottom.
We will need to recheck that hose because it does look like its the rad. Any other suggestions besides blowing the rad with pics?
- Thread starter
- #9
Did this. We have a new rad cap as well.
- Thread starter
- #10
It looks like the leak is at the bottom of the rad because the coolant is dripping off of it. Hoses looked okay. He ran the engine but the leak didn't grow. Just a fast dripping off the bottom of the rad.
- Thread starter
- #13
Not factory rad
I'd then remove the lower skidplate and get under there with a flashlight so you can establish if it's either of the large hoses, or the transmission fluid from the small lines at bottom rear. Rad leaks can be confusing because of all the crevices and horizontal fins causing water to run faar away from a leak sometimes.
DougM
DougM