Pontiac

Ask a Pontiac Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Pontiac question?

18 Pontiac Mechanics are Online Now

characters left:

Not a Pontiac Question?

Question

I have a 1999 pontiac grand am with a 3.4 v6 that pushes water out of the coolant resivor overflow tube in a weeks time the low coolant light comes on and soon after the car will run hot. I've already flushed the coolant system installed a new thermostat and replaced the cap on the resivor. I pulled the new thermostat out and it slows the problem but doesn't correct it.

Submitted: 230 days and 20 hours ago.

Category: Pontiac

Value: $9

Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION

Posted by scottyfum 230 days and 20 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi, how are you doing? On these cars there are a few things that are common for coolent leaks. The main problem are intake gasket leaks and we see a handfull of blown head gaskets. Does the vehicle overheat? Are there any external leaks or are you sure it's blown out of the overflow.

230 days and 18 hours ago.

Reply

The car does overheat but only after all of the water is pushed out the overflow. I've done a compression test on all 6 cylinders and compression is good. I've dealt with a 3.8 in an olds 98 that had a leaking intake gasket but it was so bad that it would stall the engine and fill the oil pan with water. I've looked for an external leak but I couldn't see any signs of a leak. I would like to pressure test the system but I can't find a tester that will work with the plastic coolant tank.

Answer

A simple thing to do is try a different rad cap for starters. It sounds like you have a firing ring blown out on your head gaskets. Check and see if your rad hoses are stiff when the vehicle is running for a bit. If they are then your engine compression is getting into your coolent system and it will pressurize and leak through your overflow. But the rad cap is a good idea to start with. If the cap is good for 15-17 psi for example and the spring is gone it might open at 5 psi and allow coolant to bypass and go out the overflow.Let me know how you make out. ThaScott

Accepts:
Expert:	scottyfum
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	4/6/2009

P&ontiac Technician

General Motors factory trained technician with 12 years experience, Grand Master Tech.,ASEP trained

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.