Car took a leak...
Thread Starter
Registered User
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,316
From: Berkeley, CA
Car Info: 05' WRX (Dirty Black)
Car took a leak...
Of coolant. :/
Driving home and started to smell coolant. Checked the temp gauge and it showed normal. Got on the highway and saw the temp rising, Frack! Fluctuated (accelerate = heat up / coast = cool down). Luckily I live pretty close and needle never reached the "H" but when I got home I saw a little steam coming from the hood. Popped the hood, hoses looked fine, and nothing leaking from the radiator. Water pump maybe?
Anyway, anyone know any reputable shops near Oakland to get this checked out? First mechanical problem since I bought the car.
Driving home and started to smell coolant. Checked the temp gauge and it showed normal. Got on the highway and saw the temp rising, Frack! Fluctuated (accelerate = heat up / coast = cool down). Luckily I live pretty close and needle never reached the "H" but when I got home I saw a little steam coming from the hood. Popped the hood, hoses looked fine, and nothing leaking from the radiator. Water pump maybe?
Anyway, anyone know any reputable shops near Oakland to get this checked out? First mechanical problem since I bought the car.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 186
From: Milpitas
Car Info: 06 STI
If you want to pressurize the system most local auto places rent tools. I know O'reilly's has a cooling system pressure tester for rent. Most of them you pay a deposit and get the full amount back when you return it. Save you a few $ by finding the leak yourself if its something simple to replace.
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From: Dublin
Car Info: 1998 M3, 2016 WRX
I would also guess that your radiator is starting to leak. My radiator recently took a crap. Found that it was leaking all around the area where the plastic and metal meet and it wouldn't leak unless I drove it around.
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From: Cheesesteakville
Car Info: 05 wrx wagon, 90 celica alltrac, 66 mustang
Know dat feel bro. My radiator just blew but was a little more obvious. I replaced the radiator, hoses, thermostat and thermostat housing for about $400 in parts. It was with a full aluminum koyo.
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i had a leak on my radiator where the black plastic on top meets the aluminum. squeeze the radiator hose to see if it is squishy or firm.
Don't drive it. I would just take it to GST and have them confirm it. Then again, its more than likely a blown oem radiator if I had to guess without looking. As long as the coolant resevoir doesn't look like milkshake, its safe to assume that's what it is or a radiator hose if that.
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We just had a car towed in with what the customer thought was a blown head gasket. Turned out to be a small hole in the top radiator hose. Much cheaper fix 
-- Ed
-- Ed
Thread Starter
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Posts: 1,316
From: Berkeley, CA
Car Info: 05' WRX (Dirty Black)
it was on the bottom side so i didn't see it initially, but saw it when i checked it again this morning. easy to replace and everything is hunky-dory once again!
