How do I find a coolant leak in my 2001 Dodge Intrepid 3.2L? It does not appear to be the hoses, but I notice the passenger side of the radiator is wet. Noticed puddle of coolant under passenger side of engine.

look for a leak from the drain hole under the pump housing, if no leak not a water pump
take the car to a radiator specialist shop and have a coolant pressure test done to determine where the leak is
if it has plastic tanks for the radiator , they split with time and leak under pressure and a pressure test will reveal exactly where the leak is unlike a guess

I would not know without looking at it in person.
A mechanic would use a pressure tester to pressurize the cooling system then check for leaks.

take it to a radiator specialist shop and have the system pressure tested
that will show what is leaking

Premixed antifreeze is fine to add as long as the label says for all makes/models. If the coolant level is full, then the problem might be the "blend door" or the actuators that operate them. Since servicing the blend doors or actuators require a better than average knowledge of auto mechanics, I would refer this to a shop that you trust. If the car has a temp gauge and it is reading normal, I doubt the thermostat is bad. You might possibly have a plugged heater core. Not common for a car this new, but...You can look for the two water hoses that attach at the firewall next to each other. Just disconnect them and using the garden hose and low pressure, flush the core in both directions. If you get good flow then the most likely problem is the blend door(s) or actuators.

that is where your heater core is. Its leaking, or the feed hose to the heater core is leaking. You really need to pull the plastic cover off, just below the dash on the passenger side to look. the heater core looks like a small radiator. If coolant is leaking out of it, replace it. the coolant will cause problems in the long run, if you don't fix it now. After fixing it, steam clean the passenger side of the suv, to stop having a smell, and stop the corrosion. hope this helps

Now that you've eliminated the thermostat, it could be a number of other things. Don't drive the car too far until you've fixed the overheating problem - overheating can destroy an engine.

That split ribbed hose you see is plastic wire loom - it carries and protects electrical wires, and is not the cause of overheating.

1. Low coolant level
2. Radiator hose split/cracked, causing low coolant level.
3. Head Gasket - leaking, causing low coolant level
4. Thermostat - stuck closed (you eliminated this possibility)
5. Radiator cap - worn/damaged
6. Radiator fins - obstructed by debris/cardboard
7. Water Pump belt - missing/broken
8. Heater Core - leaking, causing low coolant level
9. Intake Manifold Gasket - leaking, worn, damaged
10. Radiator Fan Relay - faulty
11. Radiator Fan Blade - broken, missing
12. Radiator Fan Sensor/Switch - faulty
13. Water Pump - leaking, causing low coolant level
14. Radiator Fan Motor - faulty

My primary suspects would be Rad Fan Relay (#10), and
Rad Fan Switch (#12).

Check the upper radiator hose by touching it after you have run the car for awhile to see if it is hot. If so then the water is circulating in the system, if not then the upper radiator hose will be cold and the thermostat is stuck. replace the thermostat and your problem will fixed. Be sure to disconnect the negative ground wire from battery before you attempt to work on coolant system. hope this will help you.

it should be a radiator overflow hose. If it is the one that goes from the radiator to the overflow tank. It is usually about 3/8 i.d. hose.

Hello Kalel6877...the "quickest" way is let a shop put it on a hoist and do it...but if you want to tackle this one i'll walk you through it.
Raise your Dodge Intrepid with a jack and lower onto jack stands, or use wheel ramps. Set parking brake and/or chock wheels
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Open the drain plug at the bottom of the radiator and drain the coolant into a suitable container.
On Intrepids with 2.7L engines, follow the lower radiator hose to the thermostat housing. Loosen the hose clamp at the end of the radiator hose with a screwdriver and pull the hose off the thermostat housing.
Unbolt the two bolts holding the thermostat housing cover on and pull off the cover. On 2.7L Intrepid engines, it is easier to gain access to the thermostat housing behind the alrernator by working from beneath the engine.
Note the position of the old thermostat and remove. Install the new thermostat with the spring-side facing into the engine. Clean any old gasket residue from inside the thermostat housing cover. Install the new thermostat gasket.
Reinstall the thermostat housing cover and tighten bolts to 105 inch/pounds. Reattach the radiator hose and tighten the hose clamp. Refill the radiator with reserve or new coolant. Reattach the negative battery cable.
Start your Dodge Intrepid and allow it to run with the heater on high until it reaches normal operating temperature. Check radiator hose for leaks and tighten the hose clamp to stop any leaks, if necessary.
Thats about it...jack her down and pat yourself on the back.
Good luck..i hope this helps...please take time to rate me a fixya.

Hi. I have put together a guide to help you with this replacement of the thermostat.


Step1 Raise your DodgeIntrepid with a jack and lower onto jack stands, or use wheel ramps.Disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Open the drain plug atthe bottom of the radiator and drain the coolant into a suitablecontainer. Reuse the coolant if relatively new and clean. Step2Follow the upper radiator hose to the thermostat housing in all enginetypes except the 2.7L. In Intrepids with 2.7L engines, follow the lowerradiator hose to the thermostat housing. Loosen the hose clamp at theend of the radiator hose with a screwdriver and pull the hose off thethermostat housing. Step3Unbolt the two bolts holding the thermostat housing cover on and pulloff the cover. In 2.7L Intrepid engines, it is easier to gain access tothe thermostat housing behind the alternator by working from beneath the engine. Step4Note the position of the old thermostat and remove. Install the newthermostat with the spring-side facing into the engine. Clean any oldgasket residue from inside the thermostat housing cover. Install thenew thermostat gasket. Step5Reinstall the thermostat housing cover and tighten bolts to 105inch/pounds. Reattach the radiator hose and tighten the hose clamp.Refill the radiator with reserve or new coolant. Reattach the negativebattery cable. Step6 Start your DodgeIntrepid and allow it to run with the heater on high until it reachesnormal operating temperature. Check radiator hose for leaks and tightenthe hose clamp to stop any leaks, if necessary.

• Removethe alternator drive belt and bolts holding the alternator in place andset the alternator aside for easiest access to the thermostat in DodgeIntrepid 2.7L engines, if desired.
• Don't drain the coolant from your Dodge Intrepid while the engine is hot.

Please rate and god bless.