1996 Buick Riviera Coolant leak

Tiny
CRYSNJ795
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 BUICK RIVIERA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 251,000 MILES
I have as stated a 96 Buick Riviera. The coolant is leaking from the undersinde of the vehicle right of the center point near the crossmember. Visually from the top of the engine compartment everythin appears dry and no leaks are seen. Feeling completely around the water pump its dry likewise for the thermostat housing. Any ideas where this leak could be generating from?
Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 8:44 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
I would say its a good posibility that its comming from the heater hose
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Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
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As far as teh heater hose, I have the Alldatadiy manual but they do not include any diagrams in relation to its location or replacement. Is it a relatively easy job to replace?
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Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
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I think so, It usually comes right out of the center of the firewall, and you just follow it to the engine block and undo it as if you were doing a simple radiator hose.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
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Thank You so much! I will check it out! Mom of 2 wee ones with Ohio weather and no car is NO FUN!
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Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 9:51 PM
Tiny
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I hear you,
and thank you for stopping by, come anytime for whatever reason.
Thanx
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Friday, October 24th, 2008 AT 9:53 PM
Tiny
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Unfortunately it IS NOT the heater hose =*(

We jacked the car up crawled underneath and the hose is fine! Is the rear block soft plug/freeze plug! Here goes Christmas Savings as most shops are gonna charge me over $500 for a stupid $3 part because they have to drop the tranny and that is something I cannot do in the street. =*(

Thanks again though!
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Saturday, October 25th, 2008 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
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That is what my last guess would be, you beat me to it though, so I dont get points for this one, but what Iwould like to tell you is, get a price on the part, then go to the place that is gonna do the work (and check other places for the better price), and see what just the labor is gonna be, most of the time these shops will charge you three times more or even better, for the price of the part. So you may save a bit of money by doing it that way, also dont go to the dealer, because they will kill you with the cost. ON everything including the parts. And hopefully this will save some money for you.
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Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 AT 10:39 AM
Tiny
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It was a $3 Freeze plug which most of the shops were not charging me for because the labor costs were so high! A Mechanic I trust quite well suggested that since we have a new engine on order to use Bars Leak Head Gasket and Block Sealent which is what we did as we needed the car on the road as soon as possible. We wont be getting the new engine installed until February so as long as it can get me to that piont I am good! Thanks Once Again! =O)
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Monday, November 3rd, 2008 AT 6:38 PM
Tiny
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Awesome, keep us bookmarked if you need any more help
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 AT 4:57 AM

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