2000 Dodge Intrepid car overheats

WILROD

MEMBER
2000 DODGE INTREPID
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
206,000 MILES

My car seems to have no leaks whether it is on or off. But, when I turn on the air conditioner and I have driven it for sometime the gauge shows it high all the way and I have to stop the car and it is leaking water on the left side of the car (passenger side). What could it be? Thank you

6 Replies

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

A/c switch may not be turning on radiator fan when a/c is turned on like it should be

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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 AT 3:53 PM

WILROD

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5 POSTS

No, the a/c fans are working. And their appears to be I beleive no damaged hoses. The car just overheats and leaks antifreez only after the a/c is on after a few minutes. It looks like the leak is some where in the front by the radiator. Cant really tell because its hard to see.

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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 AT 6:37 AM

BLUELIGHTNIN6

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If it's near radiator than would be a leaky hose most likely. So when you turn on the A/C, you have checked to make sure the radiator fan comes on?

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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 AT 1:16 PM

WILROD

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But, why it dosent do it when the a/c is not running.

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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 AT 6:31 PM

BLUELIGHTNIN6

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You may have a small pinhole in the radiator that leaks slow, and when the ac fan is on, its blowing the coolant off the bottom of the radiator. When the fan is off, it probabally just builds up a little and falls off when driving. (When you cannot notice it).

Also, are you certain it's coolant and not just water? Where is the coolant actually coming from? Have you seen it coming from the radiator?
Or do you just notice a wet patch under the car. It's possible the heat exchanger is leaking (the radiator in the heater box) and leaking out through the A/C drain tube.

Get the coolant system pressure tested to confirm the location of the leak.

Could even be a bad transmission cooler or cooler hose, it runs to radiator and uses same coolant.