The other nite while on the freeway I went from cool to dead-red overheating and shutdown on my 2000 intrepid. Lucky..I didnt fry the engine...it still runs just fine(as far as I know), but apparently I am leaking coolant like crazy. It appears to be dripping from the driver side..its splattered all over the undercarraige, etc.I put in a full bottle of 50/50 pre-diluted coolant/antifreeze, along with a radiator stop-leak, and drove my car for about 15 miles, returned home and the chamber was dry. I have looked, and although I haven't raised the car up yet, I am unable to locate the source of the leak.
any ideas where the leak could be, and how expensive it might be?
any advice would be gratefully appreciated

 

What engine does it have?

 

2.7
52k miles.
purchased from dealship with 40k miles on it.
first EVER problem in the 19 months I've hd car.

 

Was there any coolant up top in the engine bay? I guess the first thing would be to try and isolate the area more. Front driver side, rear driver side, etc. Fill the reservoir back up and start the car and watch underneath for the drips or stream of coolant. The thermostat is on the front driver side, there's a hose going from there to the radiator, the coolant reservoir is middle/rear driver side, there's a couple hoses hooked to that. All of these are possible area's. Once you have a better idea of the location, start checking hoses and hose connections. Another thing to make sure of when the car is running, is that both cooling fans are working.

 

Another thing to concider is the water pump weep hole. If leaking from there the pump shaft is leaking and the pump will need to be changed.

 

I have isolated the leak to the driveres front side, and I have pretty much ruled out any hoses...there is seepage from that part of the car. THe 2 fans on the radiator do NOT always turn...from what I understand, that is temp regulated.
I am taking to someonme who will find out what exactly is wrong and will do it for free.
thanx a bunch everyone for your help

 

I know the fans have a hi and low speed, but not sure if one running is low, and both of them running is high, or if they're both supposed to run no matter what. Anyway you said that both do not always run, so I'm guessing that both run sometimes. Just trying to figure things out, but sounds like the fans are not an issue. If it's from the driver side front, and not from a hose, then I can about gaurantee it's from the weep hole, which is on the thermostat housing. Like kurts2 said the water pump will need to be replaced, and you might as well do the timing chain/guides/tensioner while it's tore apart. Also check your oil for signs of coolant getting in there. If it did, bearings may have suffered in those 15 miles. Still possible that the head gaskets are gone. Ours did that. Dripping from the weep hole, sudden temp. spikes, still ran fine when cooled down. Good luck with it, I hope nothing more is damaged.