turbothruster

I have been struggling to know where my coolant is going...My reserve would go empty in a week or so...Finally..I found that there is a leak somewhere along the firewall...and this was after I was told by a mechanic that my radiator is bad...good for me that I was cynical about what he said...I don't trust him that much anyways...

All I know now is that it leaks on either left or right side depending on the gradient of the parking space i.e. inclined to left or right respectively...Any ideas as to what problem this might be ?? heater core??? I am gonna take her to a different mechanic to get inspected...

Thanks,
Noob

P.S.- I would have posted some pictures, but I guess one has to reach a certain status before being able to post pictures.

turbothruster

My apologies...I have been educating myself..it cannot be the heater core..if it was..it would have leaked inside the car...My case is...it leaks from the outside...Besides the heater works perfectly..I am kindda confused...help will be appreciated...

TexasHonda

Many places for a leak. I would suggest having a pressurized leak test performed by a good radiator shop to pinpoint leak location. Prime candidates are heater hose, upper or lower radiator hose, and water pump.

good luck

Tehvine

If it is leaking by the firewall, go look down the firewall in the engine bay where the heater core hoses go in. I had one start leaking on my accord, easy fix but make sure you get the actual part from acura/honda if it is one of the hoses that has bends.

turbothruster

Thanks guys...

I think I have located the leak...I think...

The hoses that go into the firewall (the ones that has bends in it) it has some kindda attachment to it before it goes into the firewall...I suspect it is the culprit... because it is just above the frame member which runs across the chassis.(the member I see the coolant drop from if looked from down under)...and hence it leaks either side depending on the grade of the space I park the car on...

If any of this made sense to anyone...I would be happy to know more...

Thanks..

Tehvine

That thing that the one hose passes through, does it have a cable attached to it up top? of so, that is your heater control valve. When you adjust temp inside, it moves that cable and opens / closes the valve.

turbothruster

Thanks Tehvine....sure enough I felt that valve by my hand today and it was seeping coolant...such a relief that this was not inside the dash or a BHG...this coolant leak has been haunting me...screw that mechanic who told me it is a leaking radiator...

Now that I have every information I need...Is it an easy fix to change the valve...I guess I must first check if its the valve or the hose....I myself don't have tools to fix that...may be get a mechanic to fix it...

Thanks guys...you have been a great help..this forum rocks..and saves us from ignorant mechanics...I am loving it...Plus there is a satisfaction that I found out what wasa wrong with my car...

TexasHonda

It's probably not the valve, but a split in the hose attached to the valve. I had this happen to my 94 Accord EX (very similar). Remove air intake for access and be careful when working to remove the hose to inspect. If you overtwist or force the hose off the valve you could damage the heater core.

Sometimes better to split the hose w/ sharp knife or razor blade rather than try to pull off.

good luck