OK... so i have my first official problem with my maxima...

It appears to be a coolant leak.

The leak is at the point the upper radiator hose attaches into the motor.

The leak is constant. I filled up the radiator and started the car and noticed that it is a constant drip at the above mentioned point.

I dont have a haynes manual yet and was just wondering if anyone knows what parts are around that place where the upper radiator hose goes into the motor.

The car is not overheating at all. The only difference has been me using the heater pretty regularly in 40 degree mornings .

If anyone has pics or schematic diagrams of that upper radiator hose going into motor area can you fwd them to me?

Car has 140K miles... new radiator, new belts... auto... maintenance has been regular.

Thanks !!

 

the lower one is on the passenger (drive belt) side and it connects to the thermostat.
the upper one is on the driver side and connects to the engine block.
you sure its not leaking from a cracked hose?

 

Looking at the engine in front of you with the hood open this hose is at the top of the radiator and is connected to the right side of the engine under the stock air intake box like thing that comes all the way to the front.
It is on the drivers side.

 

i realized my mistake and edited my post above

 

Since i noticed it just before going for dinner I did not investigate too far. We took the BMW

The thing i am concerned of is water pump or something there. but seeing that all the coolant is leaking from the engine block side as you mentioned I do want to probably buy a new upper hose and put it in.

The leak is constant. As soon as you start the car the drip starts, its not like its pouring but a smooth drip from the bottom of the hose.

Can it be that after the 138K miles the car has, the hoses may have expanded to allow this leak?

Only issue is that in about 2-3 days all the coolant is gone...

 

it cant be the water pump...its on the passenger side and behind the timing chain cover. its run by the timing chain.

the hose on the driver side connects to a metal tube that splits to feed both banks of the engine. in the middle there is a nut to bleed air from the system. the leak might by from that nut or the connections.
start the car and look around there to see where the problem is coming from. shouldnt be that expensive to fix.

 

Fixed.....

 

what year is your car? i gave the info assuming you had an 00-01. i just looked and the connection is a little different for 02-03. the bleed nut is in a different place

 

The upper hose is the hot hose so the probability of it going out with 140K miles is definetly a possibility.

I would replace both the upper and lower ones with goodyear/gates/OEM stuff.

Pretty simple, you can replace them yourself, drain radiator, replace hoses and refill radiator. Bleed the system off air via the air relief valve, if you don't know where it exists, then bleed the traditional way, raise the car in the front, remove radiator cap and plug the overflow pipe, run engine till thermostat opens and keep feeding coolant into the radiator. Repeat this process till all air is burped out.

Good luck.

 

Yes Sir it is a 2001 GLE.... Do you have a pic of the parts in that area?

When the car was running you can see coolant dripping from that exact spot where the upper radiator hose connects into the drive side of the motor.

 

Soonerfan and Love_00_Max thanks for your helpful insight

Went out this morning to take a good look at it.

The issue was related to the freaking 2 dollar clamp that goes on the hose. I dont have a pic hosting site nor does the org allow me to attach a pic... I did take a pic of the scene LOL. It was on the hose side that is on the motor. The clamp was that clip type and had actually broken.

Well, to make things short went to advance auto parts bought one of the screw on type hose clamps. Put it on and the leak has stopped.

I also checked out the hoses at advance but looking at the hose i have right now, they still feel pretty good and have no surface cracks etc. However, as part of my next service i have added in the hoses as an item. Will call Dave B for hoses tomorrow.

Once again thanks to you guys!!

 

you are welcome. im glad it was an easy and cheap fix

 

btw, the org will let you attach a pic, but you have to host it someplace else (photobucket is free and works well).

then put [img]link to photo[/img]

 

Good the problem is resolved. Surprising that these pressure clamps can actually break since one needs some force to make them release pressure with pliers. Your fix will work but always use pressure clamps, they don't eat into the rubber like the screw types as you tighten the screw. If you are intending to replace the hoses also order 4 clamps and replace all of them!!!

 

Thanks irish44j.

Love_00_max, thanks for the second note will remember the clamps with the hoses.


That is the pic for the broken clamp. You can see the left half of the clamp still on the hose and the marks where the right half should have been