Overheating & leak

Hey I've got a 1990 Legacy 5speed awd. I noticed a small (2" diameter) puddle on the ground under the passenger side of the radiator last week. I continued driving, planning to look at it on my weekend. Two days later, the temp spiked to the top and I saw more fluid leaking. I parked it and let it sit until yesterday.

 

I could still see fluid at the top of the radiator under the fill cap. I started it and drove it around for a few miles, then let it run in the driveway. The fan started okay and it didn't overhead. I drove it today and it started overheating again after a few miles. I looked at the radiator and there was fluid on the passenger side, but I couldn't tell where from. I couldn't get any heat inside the car.

 

I'm thinking it's a thermostat, any wisdom from the forum?

 

Trevor

Thermostat would be your easiest fix first. Get the car to operating temperature, and feel the top and bottom hoses.

If the bottom one is cold and the top is warm or hot, chances are, it is just the thermostat.

Make sure there isn't an overwhelming amount of pressure in the hoses as well.

Changed the thermostat, no luck. I noticed a hose toward the bottom of the radiator on the passenger side that seemed to be disconnected, but there didn't seem to be a way to plug it back in. I'll tear into it tomorrow, any ideas?

That's just the drain hose. It should have a little thing to help you turn it. Run the car and watch the passenger side hose. Maybe the lower radiator hose is leaking a bit. If not check for small cracks in your radiator.

So I ended up having a crack in the radiator. I had to pay to have it done, time was more precious than $ this week.

 

Thanks for the help bdubs and Legacy Wagon

Hey, no problem man! I'm glad you could get it fixed