To lengthen the life of your Dodge Intrepid, regular maintenance inspections are essential. A simple way to check for coolant leaks is to look underneath the usual parking place for fresh coolant. You should follow this cursory examination with a more in-depth inspection.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood and examine the hoses that connect the radiator, engine and heater core on your Dodge Intrepid. The heater core is behind the engine and close to the windshield. Look for any bulging, cracking or splitting on the hoses, which can indicate a leak. Also, look for any fresh coolant, discoloration or corrosion and even if a damaged hose doesn't leak, replace it anyway.
2Look over the water pump and the gasket seal for leaks. Search for any signs of corrosion, discoloration or fresh coolant seepage. The water pump is between the engine and the radiator and the gasket seal secures the water pump to the engine block. If you identify the water pump as the source of the leak, replacement is likely the only remedy.
3Use a flashlight to examine the radiator for leaks. Look for signs of corrosion, discoloration or fresh coolant, which are coolant leak indicators. Be certain to check the underside and bottom part of the radiator for leaks as road debris and rocks can damage these areas.
4Let the radiator cool Remove the radiator cap and fill it to within an inch of overflowing with new coolant. Never open a warm or hot radiator; it can erupt and burn anyone nearby. Twist the cap one full revolution and step away from the radiator. Wait one full minute, and then remove the cap.
5Switch on the engine of the Dodge Intrepid, set the heating system to high and let it run for about 15 minutes. Turn off the engine and check the water pump, radiator, gasket seal and hoses for leaks once more. If you don't uncover any, take the car to a cooling system specialist for further diagnostics.
