Edit: I have worked out the issue, replaced radiator, now water pump seems suspect. I will continue to update this as an archive of my work done to the car.

I have searched a bunch of threads, but just wanted to put a few pics up asking if I'm correct in assuming my radiator is leaking. I haven't had the chance to crawl under the car yet, but I just wanted to make sure I'm starting at the right spot.

Coolant on fan shroud passenger side


On plastic support.


And lastly I seem to have fluid on my intake now.


With the fluid on the intake, I'm going to assume the fans dispersed it, and hopefully not the water pump spraying it.

If it was the water pump, would my leak be farther back and noticeable on the frame? Would there be more fluid? On the cardboard I put under to catch the fluid, the puddles are small, maybe 6" diameter and look like they are just in the radiator area.

Thanks

 

Is there a spray pattern on the underside of the hood as well?
Mike

 

there is a small weep on the underside of the water pump right above the opti.. when it drips there it sometimes hits the belt and gets spun around the bay pretty good.. you;'ll notice some splash marks on the underside of your hood.. take a little mirror and make sure that weep is DRY.

 

The last time I ran the car was two months ago, and when I did I left the hood open. I'll look at the car tomorrow to make sure.

 

Yeah I've read that. I'll get my mirror out tomorrow to make sure.

 

As a plumber I have learned to keep looking UP until you find dry, then back down to the problem. Folks see a drip but it generally isnt dripping where the problem is, its wet where the moisture accumulates by gravity or occasionally by pressure spray. Kinda like sayin the hose is leaking but there is a hole in the rad right above it. Since its dripping from the clamp, thats where the problem is...........not.

Good luck, hope its something simple.

 

Could be as simple as a loose clamp.

 

Well I got a chance to look under the car and at the water pump, pretty certain it's just my radiator. I need to clean it out anyway, but I can see the row of fins in the picture of the radiator are all messed up.

Weep hole looks clean. I felt under first, wasn't wet. Had to wipe away some crud, but looks to be OK.


Here is a pic of the radiator fins.


Coolant leaking from out of fan shroud gap

 

After doing a google search, I'm guessing I didn't have enough coolant in the system and my garage got colder than I thought and it froze a bit, causing the bulge of the fins.

 

If that's the case, your radiator is likely toast.

 

it might be time for a radiator then... although last time i replaced one in the C4 it wasnt too bad.. or expensive.. the side tanks on these radiators are plastic and mine had a fatigue failure crack in the plastic tank around +/-170k miles.. (thats thinking back years now)..

 

Yup, I put in an order for a new radiator/hoses. I didn't have any water under the block, so I think it is safe to say it didn't get as cold. The nose of the car was a few feet from my garage door, so I think it took the brunt of the damage. I was thinking I had at least 70/30 in the car, but seeing as it came from NC to MI, I should have done a better job checking the mix.

Thanks for every ones feedback. I'll post pics of the radiator once pulled.

 

Finally got a chance to get some work done on the car. Thanks to some instructions I found here, removing the radiator wasn't as tough as I had read.

After draining the system, I had mostly water come out. My tester said the mix could do -10 to -15, but based on the pictures of the radiator, I doubt that. My garage never really gets below 35, but with the nose by the garage door, I'm sure there were a few nights it got below freezing.

I checked the block, heads, and water pump and from what I can see (manifolds and other parts block most of this engine) I didn't have any leaks from freeze plugs or cracks on the outside of the block. I haven't put the new radiator in and run the car, so who knows what I will find when it has some pressure in the system. Oil looked good, but again, without pressure or flow, we'll see what happens.

Pics of radiator:
Front

Front2

Bottom Row

Back

Back2




I also found two other issues, the PS pulley has a cracked edge, and passenger side o2 wire was worn through. The pulley doesn't look to cause a problem, but I think I want to replace it before I find myself stranded on a road trip because of a torn belt.

The wire I think I will just wrap with electrical tape.

PS pulley

O2 wire

 

Got the car started yesterday without any major issues. Started it up and drove around today and I think my water pump is leaking now since I had some coolant flung from the serpentine. Going to check the weep hole to see if its' that or just gaskets.

 

Checked weep hole, was not wet. Found a loose clamp on the water pump to lower radiator. Tightened that up and all other clamps a bit more from radiator install. Did a pressure check, held 15lb for over 10 minutes. Took the car for a drive and didn't have any major issues, but did have a feeling like the car was spitting and sputtering a bit. Either I have some water in the gas tank, or my filter is getting clogged. Will continue to burn through the tank of gas and see if the issue resolves itself on a fresh tank.

 

Hopefully the opti didn't get wet from the leaking coolant. Otherwise, good job on diagnosing the problem!

 

I was trying to do some research on what opti issues were after getting wet, and I read some say it won't run at all, other say it misses.

Driving around today, the car idles great, and it only felt like it wasn't getting enough fuel a few times, mostly around 2000rpm on take off. If I stepped on the gas, it would chug a bit, but then run great.

I'm hoping it's just fuel related, but there was a decent amount of coolant leaked onto the frame from the loose hose clamp.