fullymatted.
Back to search
Rennlist

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Add to repair workspace
Open repair workspace
Original source
10 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

Discussion summary

YOUR RESEARCHRadiator overflow or coolant leak?

Leading reported evidence

Run lines too close

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

I took my 2002 C4S in for some routine service (along with clearing my check engine light, which was set off by vacuum leaks in my Fabspeed Valvetronic muffler system, installer ran lines too close to hot exhaust, plus a check-valve in that system failed).

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?
Frequently discussed work

Check coolant level and is it down

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Did you check the coolant level and is it down?

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?
Read full discussion summary

Leading evidence: 'Run lines too close' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check coolant level and is it down' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.

Read captured replies

1 matching discussions · 10 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 4 other evidence results

Check coolant level and is it down

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Did you check the coolant level and is it down?

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Check water puddle, is there antifreeze in the puddle

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Check water puddle, is there antifreeze in the puddle?

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Clean junk out

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

It's time clean the junk out from between the radiators anyway so pluck that bumper cover off and git'er done!

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Clean radiators

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

How to remove front and clean radiators on a 1999 996.

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?
Frequently discussed actions (7)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Check coolant level and is it down

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Did you check the coolant level and is it down?

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Check water puddle, is there antifreeze in the puddle

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Check water puddle, is there antifreeze in the puddle?

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Clean junk out

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

It's time clean the junk out from between the radiators anyway so pluck that bumper cover off and git'er done!

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Clean radiators

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

How to remove front and clean radiators on a 1999 996.

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Clean those radiators

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Clean those radiators, this is only 3 summers worth.

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Replace parking lights

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

I did recently remove my headlight assemblies to replace the parking lights.

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?

Run lines too close

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

I took my 2002 C4S in for some routine service (along with clearing my check engine light, which was set off by vacuum leaks in my Fabspeed Valvetronic muffler system, installer ran lines too close to hot exhaust, plus a check-valve in that system failed).

Radiator overflow or coolant leak?
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

10 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261027T011819Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

I took my 2002 C4S in for some routine service (along with clearing my check engine light, which was set off by vacuum leaks in my Fabspeed Valvetronic muffler system, installer ran lines too close to hot exhaust, plus a check-valve in that system failed). I assume they topped off my engine coolant, they said they checked and topped off all fluids. After driving it home from work the next day, I smelled a bit of antifreeze, and found a small puddle on my garage floor in front of the driver's front tire. If the cooling system is overfilled, does anyone know where it purges out? Is it like regular cars that have an overflow tank? Would this be up front or back by the engine? I've never seen as much as a drop of coolant under the car before, and the timing of this makes me hope it is just an overfill correcting itself, rather than a leak in a hose or radiator. Thanks for any help!

POST 2Original post

The coolant overflow is in the engine compartment. Is it possible that it might be windshield washer fluid? That can leak around the left front tire. If it continues to leak one of the hoses might have pulled off one of the connections above the wheel well. That is not uncommon. You will have to pull the wheel liner to get to it.

POST 3Original post

If they toped off the coolant (was it low?) Why was it low? You may have found the leak you din't know you had.

POST 4Original post

The engine coolant overflow from the coolant tank will appear right behind the driver's side back wheel. I agree with fbp111 that it might be some overfill from the wiper fluid tank. How do you know it was coolant..perhaps it was wiper fluid. Did you check the coolant level and is it down? Is the cap screwed on tight...and the one for the wiper fluid? If it is indeed leaking coolant in front of the drivers side right front wheel, then one of the radiator hoses has a leak, or the radiator itself. I would not trust any service bay or mechanic that says they did something for routine maintenance...they generally are incompetent. Time to get in there and check out things yourself.

POST 5Original post

It's time clean the junk out from between the radiators anyway so pluck that bumper cover off and git'er done!

POST 6Original post

How to remove front and clean radiators on a 1999 996. Have fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um-h2aUJHY4

POST 7Original post

There are front radiator hoses and also windshield washer fluid tank in front driver tire area. Check water puddle, is there antifreeze in the puddle? (Can tell be greasy feel of antifreeze. A tap on the tongue and a zingy flavor means antifreeze, and no this won't kill you) If so it would indicate radiator fluid. This will help diagnose.

POST 8 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Thanks all, I now believe the liquid was excess washer fluid. Although I did detect a faint antifreeze smell (you know the one), and that led me to misidentify the fluid. All is good again!

POST 9Original post

Clean those radiators, this is only 3 summers worth.

POST 10 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Found another small puddle yesterday, it was definitely blue, so washer fluid. I did recently remove my headlight assemblies to replace the parking lights. I have the headlight washers and I'm wondering if that fluid connection is seeping a bit. Guess I may pull it back out and look, but I'm not too concerned.

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.