Radiator Leak? / Overheating

[honkmytonk]

So my car was over heating
Opened bonnet no coolant
Even though i checked it a couple days ago i refilled it
about 20 mins later it was completely empty again.
I presume i mustve have a radiator leak or a hose leaking?
Anyone know how i could go about Narrowing down what actually is the problem
And where!

Thanks :P

[dougie_504]

Sure. Take a look for signs of leaking. Coolant (proper coolant not just water) will look white dry/crusted. Find the leak and then let us know.

[honkmytonk]

If i just let the car idle, Would it build up enough pressure to show the leak?

[Bulbasaur]

If i just let the car idle, Would it build up enough pressure to show the leak?

yes, fill it up with up the radiator with water for now while the car is cool, leave the radiator cap off and start the car, the water level should go down abit. top it off with water again and put the cap back on. soon enough the water should start leaking, just follow the trail and trail of water and tell us where it is

[honkmytonk]

So did what you said
Engine been running for a while staying at below half
Nothing Leaking, and Fluid level not dropping
What the ****?!

[trism]

Go for a drive. It'll get the revs up, build pressure etc.

Then park it and look for the leak

Sent from my custard cannon like Peter North.

[aaronng]

If you can't find any leak, quickly take a look under your engine oil cap. Is the oil creamy-looking?

[DLO01]

Also look at the back of your exhaust. Any water comming out (drips)? Head gasket could be blown water jacket to cylinder and water being pressureised in to one of the cylinders, hence you cant see any leaks in the engine bay. You can also tell on intial startup in the morning. If theres water in a cylinder then it will run rough for a few seconds.

If your overheated it once before chances are it may be a head gasket.

[honkmytonk]

Oil under the cap looks fine
Nothing coming out of exhaust
Took it for a drive Temperature stayed just under half
Parked it and no drips!
But still Coolant in the overflow dropped Significantly

[hmetro24]

Oil under the cap looks fine
Nothing coming out of exhaust
Took it for a drive Temperature stayed just under half
Parked it and no drips!
But still Coolant in the overflow dropped Significantly
Any white smoke, how old is the radiator?
Weather is cold at the moment, so you are not going to see high temp.
Turn off the heater.do you have any water on the carpet beside the passenger side?

[honkmytonk]

Ding Ding Ding
I think we may have a winner
I remember the floor was damp on monday night i thought it was my drink bottle that was there.
Theres a stain now on the passenger mat
But i do think the radiator was changed in 2004 theres a sticker on it.

[DLO01]

Smell it. Does it smell like coolant???

[honkmytonk]

LOL i put de odouriser on it when i found it damp cause i knew it would smell but its got the white crustyness about it

[hmetro24]

Seems your heater core is leaking if you find water coolant in the passenger side.
Try to put the heater on cold which close the hose to the heater core and check if you still losing water from the radiator.
If no water/coolant loss so it is your heatercore

[honkmytonk]

May be a stupid question, where is the heatercore/ how would i go about fixing?

[hmetro24]

May be a stupid question, where is the heatercore/ how would i go about fixing?
Heater core is under the dash behind glove box. repair I am not sure if you can, but replace yes.
First you should be sure that it is the heater core,not something else

[dougie_504]

Good thinking hmetro24.

honkmytonk test it out, see if it still leaks. I had a heater core on my old corolla replaced and it wasn't exactly cheap, cost a good $400 for supply + labour.

[honkmytonk]

So Keep it on cold for awhile and if car runs fine , Its probably the heater core?

[hmetro24]

So Keep it on cold for awhile and if car runs fine , Its probably the heater core?
Just move it to cold, no need to turn the fan on. if it run without losing water coolant.So it is the heater core

[honkmytonk]

Okayyy thanks guys i would +1 you if i knew how :P

[hmetro24]

Okayyy thanks guys i would +1 you if i knew how :P
Hhahhahaha :) no worries mate, i hope i was usefull. It is the star Under my name,if you wanna rep me up:)

[trism]

The white crust is the give away.

[honkmytonk]

Alright i've been running it on cold all day no fluid level drop and seems fine.
Does it have to be the heater core or could it be a hose or something in that area?

[honkmytonk]

Lastly Where would i go to buy a new heater core?
Thanks again.

[dougie_504]

Wrecker or Honda dealership. Otherwise maybe ask a radiator shop, they might be able to supply + change.

[aaronng]

Alright i've been running it on cold all day no fluid level drop and seems fine.
Does it have to be the heater core or could it be a hose or something in that area?

Could be either one. Only way is to access the heater core and hoses behind the dash to see where the exact spot it is leaking from.