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I have a GS300 Lexus 2001, and I just replaced the radiator with a new replacement. The thing is when I run the car, the engine light comes on. And after driving the car around, the car spills coolant from underneath. I do not know where it is coming from. I thought that the thermostat is bad but the temperature gauge is maintaining the right temperatrue. It is not overheating.
Obvious places I would check for leaks are the connection points for the hoses (upper and lower). How much coolant spilling are we talking about? And what's the location of the spill under your car? Is it on the driver or passenger side? Take a flashlight and check the area right below the alternator. If it's leaking from the lower hose connection to the thermostat housing, you'll see the coolant pool up on the splash guard right underneath the alternator. Go check and report back.
First of all, thanks for responding to my post. I tried taking the car to my mechanic, but he wasn't there. And the shop was closed. Also, when the spill happened, I looked underneath, but I don't see any trace of coolant spill from the connections of both intake and outtake hoses. Just a large amount of spill on the ground coming from the middle of the radiator (which I suspect came from the reservoir hose). The radiator seems dry. The spill happens when the engine gets really hot after driving a while.
But I will go check again. By the way, I always have the a/c (air conditioning) on. NOTE: The picture below is the old radiator. The new one is right underneath it.
If you're sure that the spill is coming from the reservoir tank then you may have overfilled. Check the coolant level in your reservoir tank and make sure it's not above the full line. How much coolant did you put back after replacing your radiator? If you only drained the radiator and not the engine block, then remember that you still have between 3-3.5 quarts of coolant in the system.
Also, you sure that the spill on the ground is coolant and not water from the a/c compressor?
Hey there. It looked like the problem got fixed (by the good LORD GOD). I didn't have to do anything. Just wait until the problem fixed itself - and the spill was coming from the reserve. I turned the drain tube connected to the cap to drain from the from of radiator so I'd know if this was where the spill was coming from. And it was the source. Then I unscrewed the radiator cap and checked the level, and it was good. Then replaced the cap back in the radiator! Then after a while the "engine" light just disappeared.
08-13-18, 11:07 AM
Help with engine light on and coolant spilling
