Well I knew it was a matter of time before another problem reared its ugly head...or else I have taken a bad situation and made it worse...

Came back from a relatively short drive yesterday, pulled into the driveway, turned off the car and was walking away when I heard a loud hissing sound coming from the car. I opened the hood and the noise along with some steam were coming from some place toward the right hand side of the motor, near some belts (remember I have no idea what I am talking about). Antifreeze was just POURING out from under the car though I could not tell exactly where it was coming from. This is by far the worse leak the car's ever had and the first time I've heard/seen hissing and steam. I did not drive it to work today (obviously). Can this be a bad/cracked hose? Can it be my head gasket finally **** the bed? I am just wondering what you guys think before I attempt to bring it to the shop, because if it's a repair job under $800 I can swing it, but if it's going to be a $1600 head gasket job I am going to have to make other arrangements for wheels for a couple more weeks. Just anticipating what the repair guys (who I like and trust) are going to hit me with. Thanks!

 

Hopefully, it is just a radiator hose that needs replacing considering you say it is close to the belts. It could also be the heater hoses that connect to the front of the engine. The radiator hoses are usually less than $30 and fairly easy to put on. Heater hoses coming from the heater core are around $175 if bought new. When the engine is cold, try to see if you can determine where the coolant came from.

 

Normally, head gaskets in 3.8 do not act like that when they blow. When you say "right side" of the car are you talking about the drivers side or tha passanges side? As a general rule we when we talk about left or right of a car it is understood that left or right it you are sitting in the drivers seat. I just want to be sure that is what you ment.

 

driver's side...not near the coolant reservoir or the radiator cap, which is more on the passenger's side. I really think it's a hose too. Do you think if I fill it back up with water/antifreeze I can get it to the mechanic, which is about 5-6 miles away, no highway?

 

Depends on how bad the leak is. You do not want to chance overheating the engine. If it is the drivers side, it is more than likely the rad hose or the little plastic elbow under the throttle body.

 

If it is 6 inchs or more from center on the driver side it almost has to be the hose unless its getting on the hose from somewhere else. If you can find the leak duck tape would get you there. You really do not want to drive a car that can not maintain pressure in the coolant system more then 5-10 minutes. 3.8s this old are prone to headgasket failure and it is normally situation like this that push them over the edge.

 

Ugh, I am going to try and find the leak tonight. Dumb q., but should warm up and the car and wait for the sputtering to start or should I just look for it cold?

 

that would be easiest if you can't readily spot it. but from the way it's sounding, you should be able to trace it back pretty easy. if it is a hose that's leaking, it should be pretty obvious. check the ends of the hose, see what you find.