02 Chevy Cavalier coolant leak

Asked by Stacy Dec 27, 2017 at 06:50 PM about the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Sedan FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My 02 Chevy Cavalier has started leaking coolant
and overheating. I cannot tell where the leak is
coming from. It is on the driver side. When the car
starts to get hot the coolant starts steaming out
the front where the headlight is and runs down the
bumper. You can see about a half inch of coolant
in my headlight. do you have any idea where the
leak could be? Would stop leak help? I'm broke
after Christmas and can't afford to take it to the
mechanic!!!

2 Answers

103,435

Driving it and letting it overheat is going to cause damage to the engine and cost you more in the long run than fixing it now. Coolant leaks are not hard to track down, but you will have to get under hood to find it or even under the car. There's not much anyone online can do to help you find it. Check all the hoses and hose clamps, check also that thermostat is still working. Check the coolant level too, a simple pinhole leak in a hose won't cause an engine to overheat, unless coolant level has dropped low enough to prevent flow.

1 people found this helpful.
30,955

I suspect the leak is coming from the front of your radiator because you said "the coolant starts steaming out the front where the headlight is and runs down the bumper. "" ... You may have been hit with something that put a pinhole your radiator. Most mechanics hate using sealers but in your case I would put a bottle of "BARS LEAKS" and Please refill with antifreeze or this weather will destroy an engine filled with water

1 people found this helpful.

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