coolant fluid leaking issue

[scuba9dude]

The bolded text is the question
I have had issues with my coolant fluid leaking and the coolant low light comming on for a while. I have attempted to have it fixed by my mechanic, but have decided that he has no idea what hes doing. He has done pressure checks, replaced the sensor, and said hes done other stuff, but the fixes that he has done have just increased the time between when I have to fill up the coolant or had no effect at all(not sure if he actually did anything sometimes). Now it seems to be leaking coolant on the driverside all over the headlight casing and around there. The check engine light is comming on about once every 2 days or so. Is this a radiator issue, a seal or hose issue, or what? And is there anything I can do to check it?? I am going to take it to another mechanic soon, but I really want to have a good idea of what he should be fixing. I am sick of mechanics replacing parts and it having no impact on the problem. And I really hate filling up my coolant random times to make sure my engine doesnt overheat! Please let me know what you guys think.

[apollo322]

The bolded text is the question
I have had issues with my coolant fluid leaking and the coolant low light comming on for a while. I have attempted to have it fixed by my mechanic, but have decided that he has no idea what hes doing. He has done pressure checks, replaced the sensor, and said hes done other stuff, but the fixes that he has done have just increased the time between when I have to fill up the coolant or had no effect at all(not sure if he actually did anything sometimes). Now it seems to be leaking coolant on the driverside all over the headlight casing and around there. The check engine light is comming on about once every 2 days or so. Is this a radiator issue, a seal or hose issue, or what? And is there anything I can do to check it?? I am going to take it to another mechanic soon, but I really want to have a good idea of what he should be fixing. I am sick of mechanics replacing parts and it having no impact on the problem. And I really hate filling up my coolant random times to make sure my engine doesnt overheat! Please let me know what you guys think.

Since the radiator/ collant system is a fairly common problem on e36 m3's, It's probably best just to replace the whole thing. If you have a 95 it's probably long past due anyway. Why take a chance on overheating your engine and causing a much bigger ($$$) problem?

[ParadigmGuy]

Your upper radiator hose might have a crack in it on the underside. You probably won't be able to feel it. But if you take off that hose you should be able to identify the problem.

[scuba9dude]

Alright...Ill replace the upper hose and see if the leaking goes away. Thanx guys

[ParadigmGuy]

Alright...Ill replace the upper hose and see if the leaking goes away. Thanx guys
You should take it off and look at it yourself before you buy a new one. It just take a screwdriver and about 45 seconds.

[deboM3]

gosh i hate coolant leaks. If at all possible, i would try to idle the car until it is starting to leak, and just try to follow the coolant up as far as you can. Try to find where it is coming from before you take everything apart. You could go and replace the radiator (which may not be a bad idea) and have that not even be where the leak is coming from. Just check all hose connections and places where you could find a leak.

It took me about 3 weeks to find a coolant leak on my old car, and it ended up it was the intake manifold seal. Just keep a jug of distilled water in your trunk untill to fix it. GL

[ParadigmGuy]

gosh i hate coolant leaks. If at all possible, i would try to idle the car until it is starting to leak, and just try to follow the coolant up as far as you can. Try to find where it is coming from before you take everything apart. You could go and replace the radiator (which may not be a bad idea) and have that not even be where the leak is coming from. Just check all hose connections and places where you could find a leak.

It took me about 3 weeks to find a coolant leak on my old car, and it ended up it was the intake manifold seal. Just keep a jug of distilled water in your trunk untill to fix it. GL
My car only leaked under hard acceleration from the upper radiator hose.

[bobbyp]

Sounds like you have a crack in the radiator neck. Check the side of the radiator for the date. If it is original, or car has 60K miles on the current one, you might need to replace it. Pressure test doesn't always point to the problem.

[joenationwide]

Sounds like you have a crack in the radiator neck. Check the side of the radiator for the date. If it is original, or car has 60K miles on the current one, you might need to replace it. Pressure test doesn't always point to the problem.

Most likely radiator neck failure. Radiator necks always crack. Look for coolant residue around the upper radiator spout (neck). Leaks there can spray onto headlight.

If you found your issue, go to the groub buy section, and get a Behr radiator for only $150 or so. They are absolutely dirt cheap now. (I got mine for $270 WHOLESALE from the dealer! :eek: ). Also, replace upper and lower radiator hoses at the same time, you will be glad you did. Finally, be sure to bleed the system when refilling until the temperature gauge stops fluctuating. Keep an eye on the temp gauge the first few drives.

Good luck.

[rmn]

Either he lied about doing a pressure check or he doesn't know what he's doing. A pressure check will always find a leak (in some cases it can cause one but that is usually when something is about to go anyway) I had the same problem and the pressure tester found it (radiator neck).

[scuba9dude]

well it overheated last night. there wasnt a leak in the upper hose. I think it was the radiator neck and the impellor(water pump). he also replaced the coolant tank and the thermostat. But he says it is still overheating. I think it was the original radiator, so I dont really mind replacing it. He replaced it with stock. Since the only downside to not going all aluminum is the plastic cracking again and its has lifetime warranty I dont think it makes a difference. He is going to check it in the morning and see if it is still overheating. He thinks it might be an airbubble somewhere in the system.

[bobbyp]

Replacement plastic radiator should last you a good while. Bleeding these systems can be a chore but most likely the cause of your overheating - especially if it wasn't overheating before.

[mmiles]

how much did you end up paying for the radiator?

[anthonyglamis]

sounds like he needs to bleed the system properly. it could be many different parts that have gone bad. if you have coolant all over the passenger headlight it can only be coming from that side. do an inspection yourself. i had a leak about a week ago and for the life of me could not find it. it was coming from the small hose coming off the radiator and burning off before i could see it, sometimes you have to do it yourself. if you must and just don't want to try, definetly take it somewhere else.

[scuba9dude]

well i think the stock radiator from him was like 300. Worst thing that could happen did!!! Broken headgasket!! What else should I do or replace while he is in there?? Already have cams and such, but think there is a floated valve, becuase of missing and rough idle. Should I port and polish the heads and or get more gaskets replaced or have him check the valves?? Have him in there, so I might as well do more work, because labor is a bitch.

[mmiles]

That really sucks... sorry to hear that