Upper and lower radiator hose replacement, water leak from rear engine now Options

[layingpipeinda91...]

Hello Folks, I was helping a friend with his 1996 celica gt 2.2 automatic, convertible, the upper radiator hose sprung a leak, while he was driving home from work as a corrections officer, his drive is approx 70 miles. He tied a rubber glove about the hose and put some water in the over flow container. He made the drive home and parked it. I came two days later with the upper and lower hose and had them replaced in less than 30 minutes. we filled the radiator with 60/40 mix and turned her over waiting for thermostat to open and began adding water through the reserve, each time the radiator fans came on the reserve would empty. I then noticed a leak as water was dripping down from under the rear of the engine compartment. I checked the radiator, its fine, the new hoses are fine, the heater core hoses are good, I tried to inspect the water pump and cannot see any indication of water leak and it sounds good when running, the thermostat housing in good and dry, so I am thinking that maybe a core plug has gone bye bye? Any one with suggestion or pictures of where and how many would be awesome. I did let the car cool down over several hours and opened the radiator cap, the water level was only a little low, I squeezed the lower hose and water presented at the cap opening, but the upper hose feels like there is nothing inside it. I used garden hose to trickle water into radiator and water in was matched by water out from where ever this leak is. Again any help would be most awesome. James.

[Special_Edy]

Sounds like a freeze plug, worst case a cracked block. Im not sure where they are located on the back of the engine block but if you remove the plastic engine skirts under the engine compartment you should be able to get a much better view.

The 2.2L engine actually tilts back something like 15 degrees so this should make it easier to see the backside of the engine from underneath.



*the engine in the picture is a Camry 5SFE, which has a balancer shaft ours doesnt. so the freeze plugs may or may not be in the same location

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: Sep 11, 2012 - 10:55 PM