Thread: Coolant leak

My Dad has a 2006 Grand Prix base model that has a coolant leak on the passenger side. I noticed last week it was wet on the passenger side subframe but didn't leak when running... Until now.

The car is dripping and puddling on the passenger side but can't really tell where it was from. Noticed the bottom of the block is wet with coolant but couldn't see where it's from.

Any suggestions where to look?

Originally Posted by Below Average Joe

Could be the Water pump or the coolant elbows. The elbows are plastic and tend to get brittle with age. If that is the case, get some aluminum ones from your local auto parts store.

Yeah the elbows failed last year on him as did the water pump. Found it was a reman unit which he now says was a mistake. Will have to take a look at it tomorrow when there is more light and it's cooled down. Hope it's just the pump.


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Originally Posted by Fivefingerdeathpunch

Timing cover gaskets like to leak on them too.

There any particular way to tell if it is the timing chain cover? I tried to trace it when the engine was running and the car was on the ramps but couldn't see the point of leak. Just could see the coolant on the subframe and bottom of the block on the passenger side was wet with dripping coolant. The engine mount area in particular was also dripping.


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Originally Posted by EJOUIE

Coolant dye kit. Should make finding the leak much easier.

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Thanks for the suggestion. Since the belt is easy to remove I will pull it off bad well as the water pump pulley for a quick visual and do the dye test if I don't see anything


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the picture shows where the leak is. Not sure


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The more I look at it I think it is a leaking timing cover gasket.


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Found out it was the timing cover gasket. The water pump wasn't leaking at the moment but noticed the pulley has a little play in it as well. Sad since the one on the car was less than a year old. I also decided to replace the coolant elbows with aluminum elbows to be on the safe side since it was all apart anyway.

pulled the cover off the engine and it had clearly been leaking for a long time. Above the water jacket was covered in crystallized coolant to the point it looked like one solid surface. I am degreasing the cover and will put it back on the engine. He thought he had serious engine problems because he would have to add antifreeze periodically but turns out it was just a leaky timing cover gasket. Add a brand new water pump and aluminum elbows and it'll be good to go for a while longer.

Been a bunch of these lately.


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