Tiny ?Radiator

[94opalfrost]

Autoparts guys can't tell me, I knew one of you guys could. It looks like a tiny little radiator. Located on driverside, low, right behind radiator. Leaking antifreeze, needs replacing. I really don't know jack about cars. I always try to find out what's wrong and see if I can fix it. I replaced my radiator last year, just took my time. This looks like cake if I just knew what part to buy. Oh, it's a 94 mtx. I can't drive it till I fix it, leaks too much. Thanks a lot in advance for help.

 

[FastAndFurious]

Are you sure that is leaking antifreeze? because it sounds like you are talking about power steering cooler.

 

[1995SHO9]

X2 on that, does it have a bend in the U shaped pipe on itthat turns back into itself?

 

[94opalfrost]

Aprox. 4" X 5". Might be power steering cooler. Two hoses go towards back of engine, looks like one might curve around back of engine and connects to power steering resevoir.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

What you are talking about is indeed the power steering cooler. It's not possible for that to be leaking coolant unless there is coolant in your power steering stsyem.

 

[94opalfrost]

What you are talking about is indeed the power steering cooler. It's not possible for that to be leaking coolant unless there is coolant in your power steering stsyem.

Snap, how does coolant get into ps system? Doesn't coolant flow through ps cooler, isn't that what cools the ps fluid? It looks like something from the road hit and damaged the unit itself. Much grats for the help so far.

 

[tardboy21]

He doesn't mean that there is definately coolant in ps system.
First, be sure what is leaking is actually coolant and not PS fluid. Second, check your fluid levels. If coolant is low, it is probably coolant leaking from your radiator or a hose onto your power steering cooler and then off. If power steering fluid is low, it is the power steering cooler leaking (given you see liquid on it and it is not a fitting/pipe).

Coolant reservoir is right by the radiator, it should not be all the way to the top, there are lines marked on the side. Power steering reservoir is located between your battery and strut tower.

 

[94opalfrost]

p/s resevoir is good, radiator resevoir down. Looks like something from road has damaged unit itself. leaks not coming from hoses, but unit, on the side. Looks kinda easy to replace unit, hoses not so easy. Any known pitfalls to replacing unit and or hoses?

 

[tardboy21]

make sure you use the Cold/Hot lines on the reservoir. The reservoir will be lower when it is cold, and should not me all the way to the top either when it is hot.

 

[93rev2sev]

if there is coolant on that thing, it came from above. Check the lines that look like they go to the oil filter...follow them up to the throttle body area...that's where you wll find the leak...dripping down the hose and landing on the PS cooler. ...wild ass guess...

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

Yeah, I definitely did not mean that there was coolant in the PS system. Just meant to tell you how extremely unlikely/impossible that would be.

If the coolant it on the PS cooler it is most definitely coming from something above it. Liquids have this uncanny ability to travel down hoses, drip, run down another hose, drip etc... sometimes a leak takes time to trace.

 

[94opalfrost]

Thanks to everyone for your help, guess I know what I'll be doin this weekend, lol

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

FWIW, coolant dries or evaporates with a white stain on hoses. Pretty easy to spot if your engine is fairly clean. Just look on the underside of the hoses.

 

[SolidState]

there is a little U-shaped hose beside the oil filter the carries coolant. it is above and to the left of the power steering cooler.

I had this hose fail on me last year. It is near the bottom of the engine, so allll the coolant will come out when you pull it. And depending on where the hole is, it can leak towards the PS cooler. Check it out.