Coolant Leak Front Passenger Side Tire [7 Easy Solutions]

Coolant leak front passenger side tire! A leaking heater core, leaky rubber hoses, a faulty heater control valve, and a leaky coolant reservoir are the culprits that cause the coolant to leak out. 

Fortunately, we will break down each of those problems that are responsible for a coolant leak. So, stay with us till the end of this guide to explore the solution. 

Coolant Leak Front Passenger Side Tire [7 Easy Solutions]

This chapter will disclose all the culprits that are responsible for coolant leaks from the bottom of the car or the passenger side. We will also describe how to stop a coolant leak. So, keep scrolling. 

1. A Leaking Heater Core

A damaged or leaky heater core is the main culprit that causes the coolant to leak. It will be a common issue if there is red ‘Dex-Cool’ antifreeze in the system. GM advertised that their coolant has a lifetime lifespan, though they inscribed on the reservoir that you should replace it every three years.  

Within two years, the additives in the coolant will get worn out just like other antifreeze on the market. If that happens, it’s pretty obvious for acids to form in the system that attacks the metal parts. 

Additionally, the heater core can also be leaked via electrolysis, a chemical reaction. It creates an electrical current that flows through the coolant and eats up the tubing of the heater core. 

Cars smell sweet, windows get foggy, and the car cabin is cold when the engine is hot. These are some examples of heater core leak symptoms. 

Solution:

We recommend you inspect the heater core for a leak. Now, you may ask- how to test a heater core to determine whether it gets leaked or not? 

Simple. Just get a short hose and bypass the heater core. If the leak stops, understand there is a leak in the heater core. Regarding this, you should replace this component. 

Replacing the heater core will require a lot of tasks like you need to remove the dashboard completely to access the area. For a competent mechanic, it should take several hours. That’s why the heater core repair cost is so high. You should spend at least a thousand dollars to get the replacement. 

Alternatively, if you are looking for a quick fix for the heater core leak, you can seal the hairline crack on the heater core. K-seal is the best heater core sealant you can rely on. When applying this seal, ensure you set the heater to the maximum to let it flow through the pipes and reach the leak. 

Keep in mind; using a K-seal is a quick heat core repair. It would be best to change the heater core with a new one to fix this issue permanently. 

2. Leaky Rubber Hoses

Heater or radiator hoses are also in the cooling system area. If those coolant hoses get cracked or damaged, coolant fluid will leak near the passenger side. 

A leaky rubber hose will cause a stream of hot coolant to spray out. Several reasons are responsible for leaking the coolant hoses. Kinked hose, electrochemical degradation, and insufficient coolant level are some culprits that cause the hoses to crack or be damaged. 

Turns out, that rusty hose connections or the clamps of the hoses get loosened are responsible for leaking coolant. 

Solution:

Changing the coolant or radiator hoses is not rocket science. Just follow the below step-by-step guide to replace the hoses. 

• Before starting the replacement procedure, park your car on a flat surface and turn the engine off. Wait until the radiator cap is cool to touch. Then, unplug the radiator cap and set it aside. 
• Place an oil drain pan right underneath the radiator and drain the radiator by unhooking the drain petcock. 
• Unscrew the clamps at each end of the radiator hose. The hose clamps generally come in either spring tension or screw design. You need to squeeze the spring tension with pliers or pull it back to unscrew. On the other hand, you just need to unscrew the screw tension using the screwdriver. 
• Once you unscrew the clamps, pull the coolant hose out by twisting and removing it from the fitting. 
• Install the new coolant hose onto the connector and position the hose clamps. Then, tighten up the clamps at least ¼” from the end of the radiator hose. Make sure the clamps are beyond the bead of the connector and secure them firmly. 
• Following the same steps, you can also unscrew the down radiator hose and replace them if needed. 
• Plug the drain petcock and fill the cooling system with fresh coolant. 
• Don’t forget to bleed the cooling system every time you service it. You can easily bleed the system. Just run the engine by keeping the radiator cap off. Operate your engine until it reaches the operating temperature and antifreeze starts to come out of the radiator. 
• Finally, top up both the radiator and reservoir with coolant. 

3. A Faulty Heating Control Valve

A damaged heating control valve is another caveat responsible for this issue: coolant leaking from the front passenger side of the car. Over time, the heating control valve starts getting worn out or cracked. Consequently, the coolant comes out of the control valve. 

Therefore, the heating control valve also gets defective because of excessive corrosion when the valve comes into contact with contaminated coolant.  

Solution:

You must change the defective or worn-out heating control valve if the coolant leaks because of it. You can follow the below tutorial which will guide you through the complete procedure of replacing the heating control valve. 

4. A Defective Water Pump

A bad water pump can also cause the coolant to leak out from the axle sealing or any gaskets. To ensure uninterrupted water flow, the water pump incorporates gaskets to ensure the antifreeze will stay sealed. 

Over time, the gaskets of the water pump get damaged or deteriorated and cause the coolant to leak out. If you ever observe a puddle of coolant or water below the front end of the vehicle, we bet the water pump is at fault.  

Solution:

Whenever you find the water pump defective, you should replace it right off the bat. If you are mechanically inclined, the below tutorial will help you change the water pump. Otherwise, we recommend you bring your car to a mechanic, which will cost you above $500. 

5. Coolant Split Pipe Gets Cracked

A cracked coolant split pipe also causes the coolant to leak out. The antifreeze will even leak if there is a hairline fracture on the coolant split pipe. Just inspect the hoses from the coolant reservoir towards the front of your vehicle. You will find a Y-shaped plastic fitting, which is called Coolant Split Pipe. 

Solution:

This is a common failing and you can easily fix this issue. Just replace the split pipe with the ECS aluminum version. And you should never look back again or touch it.

6. Leaky Coolant Reservoir

Sometimes the coolant reservoir itself becomes the culprit. Over time, the coolant reservoir gets cracked or broken due to old age or overheating. Consequently, the coolant will leak out of the coolant reservoir. 

Solution:

To stop the coolant from leaking out, we recommend you replace the faulty coolant reservoir with a new one. You can take help from the below tutorial if you don’t know how to replace the coolant reservoir. 

7. A Defective Radiator

A faulty radiator is another common reason that causes the coolant to leak. If the radiator has a plastic tank on the top and bottom, it’s prone to leak. Generally, the plastic part of the radiator will take apart from the metal part. When it occurs, the coolant leak will run down the metal part of the radiator and make a pool at its base. 

When it leaks more, the coolant will travel to the right side of the car. And it’s the reason why you can see a puddle close to the front right tire. We recommend you open the hood and take a flashlight to find the leak in the radiator area. 

Solution:

Replacing the defective or leaky radiator with a new one is the only solution to this problem. If you are mechanically inclined, you can follow the below tutorial. Alternatively, you should bring your car to a certified mechanic to get a replacement. 

How Much Should It Cost To Fix A Coolant Leak?

Generally, the cost of coolant leak repair is between $100 to $900, which is determined by the amount of damage by the leak. Therefore, the price may fluctuate depending on the location and the mechanics or chain shop charge for it. 

As you just want to repair the leak, you don’t need to spend an arm and leg as the mechanic will just seal the leak. On the other hand, you need to spend a lot of bucks if there is a major issue like a damaged heater core. 

FAQs:

Conclusion

A coolant leak is hazardous to your car engine. If you drive your car with a coolant leak, the engine will get overheated once all the coolants get leaked out. So, you must address this issue and find the source of the coolant leak. 

And in this car troubleshooting guide, we mentioned every potential reason that causes the coolant to spray out. Just follow our guide, find the leak, and fix the issue (as we also broke down how to fix the coolant leak).