Q: Where is my coolant leaking from? 2007 Dodge Caravan

asked by on December 05, 2016

Preheated my car one morning last week and came back out to find coolant running down my driveway. Tried again next day and saw no fluid, so I drove it some more. On a cooler night, I was driving down the interstate and it started running hot, but when I got off the closest exit, I got to the stoplight and it cooled down. I had my heater on, but it took a LONG time for it to blow warm, never hot. Sometimes, it blew cool, so I cut it off. I turned it on fully when it started to overheat, and that didn't help, just stopping did. I'm not sure if it leaked anymore fluid that night. I checked it out yesterday, to see if I could find where the leak was. I added water to the reservoir looked for any wet spots. No hoses were leaking but the tabs that hold the brush guard under the bumper were dripping, more so from the driver side. This morning I drove it and heard bubbling noises when I parked. Saw fluid had sprayed thru the driver side fan behind radiator and onto parts below. Fan was wet.

My car has 125000 miles.

Coolant is leaking Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hello - you may have a coolant leak from a worn out water pump. If so, this could result in an immediate failure, as modern water pumps have a remarkable ability to work right up until complete failure. The "gurgling" sound you hear is the engine boiling water inside the engine because there is now a large air bubble inside the engine. Simply adding coolant without bleeding the system will cause overheating damage quickly. I would recommend a cooling system inspection ASAP by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I change the air intake control?
The air intake has two available settings: outside air (air from outside the vehicle is used), and recirculated air (air from inside the vehicle is recirculated). To turn on the recirculated air, press the Recirculated Air button on the climate...
Car starts and then dies
Symptoms like this can be caused by a number of things. Low fuel pressure, no spark, an engaged theft deterrent system are all examples of things that can cause symptoms similar to what you are describing. I would suggest seeking...
Loud clicking noise from under dash
All of the controls for your heating and AC are controlled by electric actuators; they move “doors” to control the airflow and temperature. When you start your truck, all of them go through a self check; from your description, it...
Brakes go all the way to the floor - 1998 Buick Skylark
To eliminate the possibility of air anywhere in the hydraulic braking system, you can bleed (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/bleed-brakes) all wheel cylinders (calipers) even if you have worked on only one. Start with the longest brake line and finish with the shortest line....
Ac and heater blowing very lightly or not at all.
Hello there; there are many different faults that can cause your 1996 Mazda 626 to have very low or no air coming from the vents. The most common failures are the blower motor, blower motor resistor, or a wiring harness...
Odd sound coming from L/F tire. Almost sounds like the tread only is rubbing but nothing is hitting it.
You can rule out the tire as a possibility by simply moving that left front wheel/tire assembly to the rear. After you do that, if the noise persists at the left front, then the tire is not implicated. Wheel bearing...
Why does my 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe idle rough when in gear
Hello. It sounds like you may have a few things going on here. Most of the time if you are having issues with the vehicle when the fuel is low it is because the fuel pressure is dropping off at...
My car steering wheel shakes
What you are describing sounds like a problem with the rack and pinion gears. The rack and pinion gear set does two things: It converts the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion needed to turn the...
Drove car to mechanic due to overheating, did $650/work and now says car not drivable, needs towed away.
Hi Tonya. Thanks for contacting us tonight. I'm sorry to hear this has happened to you. When a car overheats at any time, it can cause internal engine damage within minutes. Even if the engine does not overheat during the...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Dodge Avenger
The The newly redesigned 2012 Dodge Avenger is a really impressive addition to the mid-size sedan market. This model is Dodge’s answer to the likes of the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, and while it may not have quite...
5 Essential Things to Know About Storing Your Car
Even Even if your car will be sitting for a period of only a few weeks, it’s important that you take steps to store it properly or you will risk having mechanical problems crop up from disuse – some of...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Arizona in 2012
Depending Depending on where you live in Arizona, the weather is either arid or there may be periods of heavy snow – such as in the mountain areas. The vehicles that have been popular in previous years for the area,...