Can Anyone Provide Me How To Get Access Of The Passenger Radiator.....

[Johnny-5]

Revised: Sorry forgot the important stuff:

2000 C4 Cab, US model with Tiptronics

Car has about 63k on the tach

Ive been noticing that the coolant level has been getting low on occassions and I will have to keep refilling it. On top of that when at a stop or in traffic theres a loud whinning sound I believe the radiator fan may be the cause of it and probably damaged my radiator so its leaking slowly and want to check both passenger and drivers radiators. A few questions:

It is not normal to having to fill up the coolant on these cars right?

If not does anyone know where a good spot to look for a leak would be? Most common areas?

And last but not least can someone provide me step by step procedures on how to access both radiators.

Thanks,

J5

Edited April 5, 2010 by Johnny-5

[Loren]

Coolant tank is the number one leaker.

Number 2 is likely the water pump.

Not that common but a radiator will leak if it has been damage.

Worse possible cause would be head gasket or cracked cylinder liner.

You will need closer observations before and after driving to locate the leak.

[ALLSPEED]

If you would like to access your radiators do a search on this site for DIY on removing the front bumper and you will find your radiators. One is in the center and the other are mounted behind the A/C condensers. There is also a good video on U-Tube from a fellow in Texas. It is a good idea to clean the radiators if you have never done so and a good time to install some grille material to keep the trash out. There are also good DIY's here for that. But, going back to Loren's comment they may not be your leak and it is not common to keep adding coolant.

[Johnny-5]

Coolant tank is the number one leaker.

Number 2 is likely the water pump.

Not that common but a radiator will leak if it has been damage.

Worse possible cause would be head gasket or cracked cylinder liner.

You will need closer observations before and after driving to locate the leak.

Sorry and Thanks for the reply Loren.

Hopefully its one of the three minus the head gasket or cracked cylinder liner. Just a thought if its one of these two wouldnt there be oil or some sort of residue in the coolant? Because mines clean with no traces or spots what so ever? Just a thought?

[Johnny-5]

If you would like to access your radiators do a search on this site for DIY on removing the front bumper and you will find your radiators. One is in the center and the other are mounted behind the A/C condensers. There is also a good video on U-Tube from a fellow in Texas. It is a good idea to clean the radiators if you have never done so and a good time to install some grille material to keep the trash out. There are also good DIY's here for that. But, going back to Loren's comment they may not be your leak and it is not common to keep adding coolant.

Allspeed,

Thanks Ill do some searches on Youtube and on here and report back on my findings. Hopefully its something simple! PRAYING!

[Johnny-5]

Can someone tell me all three locations of the radiators and which ones have fans? This is a tiptronics tranny so Im assuming both drivers and passenger side will have fans right? I believe reading that tiptronics have 3 radiators but where would the third one be?

[Loren]

Can someone tell me all three locations of the radiators and which ones have fans? This is a tiptronics tranny so Im assuming both drivers and passenger side will have fans right? I believe reading that tiptronics have 3 radiators but where would the third one be?

The 3rd radiator is in the center of the front bumper.

[Johnny-5]

Can someone tell me all three locations of the radiators and which ones have fans? This is a tiptronics tranny so Im assuming both drivers and passenger side will have fans right? I believe reading that tiptronics have 3 radiators but where would the third one be?

The 3rd radiator is in the center of the front bumper.

So by removing the front I will have access to all three radiators. Perfect. Thanks again. Will work on it over the weekend and will report back.