1996 Chevy Lumina minivan. Any idea on cost to repair?
2007-10-08 09:17:33 · 4 answers · asked by tecvba 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
well actually I don't see any puddles or smoke or anything. I put in coolant about 6 weeks or so ago and now the temperature gauge is running up to hot but the "add coolant" light is not on...just the gauge.
2007-10-09 01:34:04 · update #1
A hole in a hose, a loose hose clamp, a water pump that is shot, a hole in your radiator. There could be a few causes, not just one simple thing. Take to the shop, or lift the hood and try to see where the coolant is leaking from. If it is hose, that is a cheaper fix, if it is your water pump you could be looking at a high dollar amount (if it is this, I would change your belt and that time too).
2007-10-08 09:29:17 · answer #1 · answered by kaligrl77 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Overheating engine? Smoke/Steam from exhaust? 1; With the cooling system cool remove the radiator cap "Slowly!" Is there rust or foam under the cap? Rusty cap cap stop the hot coolant from getting to the overflow tank and cause an overheat, replace cap.
2; Start the engine and look in the radiator, do you see oil Reddish, or smell exhaust? Exhaust is from blown head gasket, Reddish is from broken transmission cooler line in radiator.
3; Check hoses, cracked or leaking, if they feel overly soft they could be cracked inside blocking coolant flow.
4; Thermostat stuck 1/2 or fully closed cause an overheat and forcing coolant out of the radiator and out through the overflow tank.
5; Water pump may be bad, impeller not turning or a like at the seal.
2007-10-08 20:56:57 · answer #2 · answered by sidecar0 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is there a visible puddle on the ground or sign of a leak on the engine or radiator? If there is, try to determine where the leak is coming from...shops can put tracer dye in the cooling system and check it with a blacklight if it's hard to tell....could be a bad water pump or leaking radiator or hoses. If there's no visible external leak and no antifreeze leaking inside the car from the heater core which usually shows up by having a sweet smelling steam come out of the heater/ac vents, then I would say it's a bad head gasket(s). A shop can pressure test the cooling system to determine if it's holding pressure or not... that would indicate a bad head gasket....testing would run 20-40.00 or so and replacing the head gaskets might run several hundred dollars. Might want to call around to various shops and get quotes to do the repairs and if they warranty their work.
2007-10-08 16:34:03 · answer #3 · answered by paul h 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Is there an overflow/expansion tank ? Is that catching coolant ?
1. radiator cap
2. Leak in radiator itself
3. Leak in radiator hose
4. leak in heater core or hoses
5. water pump
6. blown head gasket , allowing coolant to leak into cylinder
check for antifreeze at tailpipe
check for coolant in oil / oil in coolant
depending on whats wrong anyware from say $10 for new radiator cap to $100s for head gasket.
2007-10-08 16:33:40 · answer #4 · answered by mark 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋