hey all,
its my 00 elantra after a long while. yesterday night i stopped to get gas, and from below the hood a stream of urine-coloured fluid seeped across the parking lot. i read my handy copy of haynes, and felt certain one of the radiator hoses had given way, since it had not leaked bit-by-bit before, but just poured out in one shot and left the coolant reservoir empty. today there's still some greenish fluid pooled up near the engine block.
anyway i drove back 3 miles to park my car, stopping 3 times on the interstate (switching off the engine and driving in neutral at times!) when the needle hit red. i dont think my engine's overheated, since it ran without stalling or anything.
i cant seem to spot a hose leak, although there is yellowish-white crunk deposit around the lower hose engine end. the upper hose looks clean.
my question is: is there some way i can detect a leak easily and confirm it - by running water through it or something similar? also i called up a goodyear, and he gave me an estimate of $100, but if it is just a leak or a faulty hose clamp, would it be cheaper to replace it myself?
(there is also a 3rd hose that's as thick as the lower hose coming out from that area, but does not go to the bottom of the radiator, it kind of disappears under the ignition panel of the engine. anyone know what this is? this hose also has some white deposit on one end.)
any help would be appreciated. advice or repair expertise even! :)
-tejas