Coolant leak

[fri3dchick3n]

Today is about 75 Degrees here in Alaska. So after work I decided to try a few pull on my car since its my DD and I usually drive it like a grandma.
After my first pull I thought I smelled something but wasnt sure, So I decided to do another pull and noticed this smell instantly and knew it was coolant, Car wasnt overheating sitting at 185* about.
Im about 1 miles away from home, but cranked up my heater and rolled down my windows and my car cooled off quickly.

Came home to check it out and coolant was pouring out, tried finding the source but I couldnt find it. I didnt look for it thoroughly yet but I managed to capture this short video off my Galaxy SIII.

I just hope it isnt my Head Gasket, Would a Head Gasket leak like this, I know they dont blow out often on these motors but it could happen. And I have a 360 Mile drive tomorrow to go fishing!

Any input would be great, Thanks in advance

20130625_185657_zps57fa897d.mp4 Video by fri3dchick3n | Photobucket

Sorry for the poor quality, I didnt think it would be this bad. Any suggestions?

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Water pump or a coolant elbow is my guess.

[REDCRAPGP]

Head gaskets are very rear on these cars. I'm leaning more toward your coolant elbows if anything

[fri3dchick3n]

I have replaced the coolant elbows when I did my LIM gasket about 20k miles ago. But I guess they can still go out. Anyway to properly check if the water pump decided to fail?

[Scottydoggs]

I have replaced the coolant elbows when I did my LIM gasket about 20k miles ago. But I guess they can still go out. Anyway to properly check if the water pump decided to fail?

water pump wont leak like that, they leak after you shut the car off and leave a small puddle, ( most of the time) that was a river in the vid.

[Scottydoggs]

thats a lot of coolant to run out like that, check the rad hose, it may have split or burst.

check the elbows, the one is up top, i think you'd see that was broken already if it was.

then theres the freeze out plugs. one could have popped or rusted out on you. its hard to tell what area its truly coming from in your vid.

[fri3dchick3n]

Thank you very much for the replies, I will check all of the things Scottydoggs has mentioned and hopefully I it nothing to expensive or serious. And only place where I could see a lot of coolant leaking was in the front lower part of the engine. Theres splashes all over the front, a little on the fuse box, more on my Intake. But most of it is on the bottom half of the front end. I'll get to it!

[Scottydoggs]

its the front of the block being wet that makes me hope its the lower rad hose. and not a freeze plug fingers crossed. but the front ones can be changed in the car should it be a freeze plug. at least they look do able.

[fri3dchick3n]

Okay, I found the leak. I had my wife squeeze the radiator hose as I was looking underneath for leaks/air movement and I found the source. Im guessing it a freeze plug, it has some red on it with a T on there.

20130625_195450_zps699ccc25.jpg Photo by fri3dchick3n | Photobucket
20130625_195449_zpsb792f970.jpg Photo by fri3dchick3n | Photobucket

[Scottydoggs]

not sure what that wire is, maybe the knock sensor harness. but being that freeze plug is the cleanest thing on your engine, id say its the leak. looks like a clear shot to get it out/in. they sell a tool to hammer them back in with, or use a socket that fits the plug and a long extension and hammer it in. sadly this kills the extension most of the time.

you'll want to clean the block up with some sand paper to get any rust off the inside where the plug goes.

as far as getting the old one out ive always punched them with a screw driver made a hole in it and pried it out.

search you tube, maybe there a cool tool for removal. as easy as it looks, its still a bit of a tight area to work in.

[fri3dchick3n]

Yea thanks again for the reply. Im glad I can see it easily, looks a little tight my I think my scrawny fingers might be able to do the job. Hopefully I dont F up the harness too bad. Thanks again for the awesome information I'll lets you guys know how it goes.


Id give you a hug if I could.

[Scottydoggs]

send fresh fish lol what you going out for this time?

[fri3dchick3n]

Haha, I probably can. Im going for Sockeye Salmon aka Reds. Will be a 2 month trip. Easy and great money.

I just came back from a fishing trip for Sablefish or aka Black Cod. My favorite fish by far Very hard to catch though.

[Scottydoggs]

sounds yummy. hopping you have smooth seas on your trip. smoother then that freeze out plug any ways.

i really miss having my boat, i used to go fishing every weekend. mostly for flounder, or stripers, if nothing was biting we'd waste the bait on blues and then go home lol but this was for fun, not to make a living off.

2 months at sea. with nothing but the smell of fish on my hands, i may go nuts lol

[fri3dchick3n]

sounds yummy. hopping you have smooth seas on your trip. smoother then that freeze out plug any ways.

i really miss having my boat, i used to go fishing every weekend. mostly for flounder, or stripers, if nothing was biting we'd waste the bait on blues and then go home lol but this was for fun, not to make a living off.

2 months at sea. with nothing but the smell of fish on my hands, i may go nuts lol

Yea fishing is fun, and you get used to being away from home.

Anyway the freeze plug that is leaking has that wire harness and that wire harness is for my heater core I found out. Do I get a specific freeze plug with this harness already in it or do I have to not destroy this harness and re install it into my new freeze plug?

[Scottydoggs]

so that plug goes into the freeze plug?

the heater core is inside the car. did you mean a block heater for cold climate?

[fri3dchick3n]

Thats what I was thinking at first but I follow the wire and they seem to be just cut off 3 feet down. I tried yanking on that red cap connected to the plug and it seems pretty snug on there.

It really could be that though. I have never used a block heater on my car though...

Hmm, This could be the second half I guess. Anyway, the other end isnt even connected to anything so I am about to start destroying things down there.

And I cannot find any info on that wire harness that is going to the freeze plug so it must not be stock.

[fri3dchick3n]

Ok, maybe I should just start destroying stuff down there haha. I managed to yank that red cap off with some pliers and this is what I found.

[Scottydoggs]

found this thread, one guy post 6 says the block heater goes through a rear freeze plug, maybe it was added after it was delivered to a dealership and they put it in the front plug.

does my car have an engine block heater?

also found this ebay ad, not for your car but it looks the same cord and plug wise. Block Heater Pontiac Sunbird Grand Am Grand Prix 2 0L 92 93 94 New | eBay

if you dont use the block heater, then im sure a regular freeze plug will fix you right up.

[fri3dchick3n]

Thanks for the links, I will check them out right now. And I think thats what it might be off the ebay link you have posted.

I manage to take off my freeze plug and it looks similar to that. All I had to do was loosen this nut and it would come out.
And I will just grab a regular freeze plug and replace that. I Think its a good time for a good coolant flush lol.