So,

This is my first post, I've been a lurker for a while. However, today while driving to work my S (2000 AP1, 86k miles) got up to 4 bars on the gauge. I thought it odd but kept on my commute. Literally, a 6 mile commute. Nothing too strenuous. Got about a mile from work, and it hit 5 bars. I immediately pulled over and turned it off. However, in the time it took me to pull over, I also had this weird "knocking" noise come up. Not like engine knock. It wasn't relative to the engine, but more so me driving on the road. Not sure how to really explain it any better. After I got pulled over, I popped the hood, turn the key to ACC, and proceed to see what was up. No coolant in the reservoir so I looked under the car and there was coolant beginning to leak. I'm not sure if the "knocking" I heard earlier had anything to do with the coolant or not. Gonna try to put some water in there and drive it a half mile to a garage later on today. Figured I would stop by here and see if there were any words of wisdom. or anyone with relative stories.

 

++Just to add, on initial start up this morning, it was a rough start. it was Cold as well, roughly 28 Degrees.

 

First step is to determine the source of the leak, is it the pump? A hose? Head gasket? Radiator, radiator cap? Loose petcock valve?

 

Well, I couldn't really see "where" the leak was coming from. It was still extremely dark out, and I had to get to work. So, I'll be going back later on afterwards and checking to see where it looks to be coming from.

 

[media]http://imgur.com/p16Qb7W[/media]

So, I filled up the radiator after it was completely flushed out this morning, drove it slow back home, didn't over heat at all until I came to a stop at my house, at that point it started POURING the water I had put in there to temporarily get it home. Like a river. I also have NO hot air whatsoever coming out from the inside of my car.


Can anyone help?! I'm lost. New radiator? New heater core? Thermostat?

 

You need to find the source of the leak.
Also stop driving it until you have it fixed it and got all the air out of the system.

 

I've already stopped driving it. Gonna get home and pop the shield underneath and take a look around to see where the leak could be. It should be an obvious fix, it's not really a leak as it is a flood after coming to a complete stop.

 

Search for the threads about getting all the air out of the cooling system. Requires more than filling the radiator.

-- Chuck

 

buy, rent, borrow a coolant pressure tester. use it in your garage with the door shut get it as quiet as you can. pressurize the system and listen for the leak. this is the simplest way to find the leak.

something like this, make sure it fits your radiator.
http://www.amazon.com/Stant-12270-Co.../dp/B0002SRGWU