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I have a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with a mystery coolant leak. It only seems to leak when the car is sitting and its cold out. For example I got in yesterday had a low coolant warning filled it ran it all day no leaks. Got in today low coolant warning again so I filled it again, found coolant in the snow. Drove it all day today checked several times no leaks.
l Checked all my hoses they seem fine. I suspected the heater core because I have intermittent “warm” heat. But I have no sloshing sounds and the carpet is not wet on passenger side. I don’t really have the money to take it to the shop and am trying to figure it out on my own.
Thanks In Advance
Don
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Aout the only way to find a leak for sure is to pressure test it. Is there a specific pioint that the fluid leaks out at? If you’re jeep has rear air/heat which Id be surprised if it does there’s hoses that run back to a heater core in the rear.
Okay, this is such a simple suggestion I’m almost ashamed to post it. In addition to the pressure test already suggested, find some large boxes and make large sheets of cardboard. Strategically place them directly under the engine. Leave themovernight. You should be able to determine if the leak is originating from around the front radiator area as opposed to near the firewall for example. I’ve done this before with hard to find leaks and it has gotten me looking in the right areas. The surface of course would need to be flat such as a garage interior. Good luck
[quote=”tomatofarmer1″ post=124564]Okay, this is such a simple suggestion I’m almost ashamed to post it. In addition to the pressure test already suggested, find some large boxes and make large sheets of cardboard. Strategically place them directly under the engine. Leave themovernight. You should be able to determine if the leak is originating from around the front radiator area as opposed to near the firewall for example. I’ve done this before with hard to find leaks and it has gotten me looking in the right areas. The surface of course would need to be flat such as a garage interior. Good luck[/quote]
this is actually a very good suggestion. kudos.
OP, next step up, before getting into pricy pressure tests, is to buy contrast dye and black light. dye coolant and next day or so, shine light all over everywhere. It’ll show itself.
unless you have internal leaks, into combustion chambers, but then you likely to smoke white smoke quite noticeably outta tail pipe.It was in about 3 spots in the snow towards the back of the engine. Gonna get a loner pressure tester tomorrow. I will update.
This I know a fair bit about. My son and I just did a heater core replacement on one of these jeeps. If it is leaking toward the back of the engine on the passenger side it is the heater core. My son’s jeep did not have puddles of coolant on the floor board either. Pull up the carpet and I bet you find coolant soaked into everything. If it is a slow leak it will run down and under the carpet.
The good news is that while it appears a daunting task to pull the IP it is not as bad as you think. There is a really good Youtube video and written step by step instructions. I actually found getting to the heater hoses much harder than pulling the IP.
If you determine it is the heater core ping me I will dig up everything I used.
Randy
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