This is the 2nd time we've had to add coolant in the last month. We keep the car in garage so we would notice leakage. We first noticed car blowing cold air when we tried to run heater, but didn't think anything of it since it was 30 degrees outside. We drove it for awhile then the light came on telling me to idle engine. Of course, I'm freaking out. I'm mad. #1 - no temp gauge for me to accurately assess how long it's been running hot. #2 - where the heck is the coolant?
Last night, it happened again. We stopped, let it cool down and inched it home. We weren't far from the house. I've looked at a lot of other choices and I'm not sure what to do. I wouldn't mind taking it to a shop but lots of people around here in podunk Missouri can't work on anything newer and I really don't want to take to dealership (car is paid off) unless I trade it in for something else!
When I got in the car last night, it was dinging about air pressure (granted the temp changed about 20 degrees). I know the tires will fluctuate in that state, then the coolant. I've ran salvage cars most of my life, I've had a few newer cars and one brand new car (not this one)... I'm thinking about just getting cash for it somewhere and buying a clunker with air bags.
Also the tires have drove me up a wall! Thin tires that I've had to replace twice within 2 months (2 different ones). If it wasn't for the tires making the ride rough and the coolant issue that may be a cracked head or something simple, I'd love this car. ALWAYS SOMETHING. The last GMC product I had (Acadia) the transmission was slipping, which was an ongoing problem but not recalled.
Update from Dec 30, 2019 Mechanic did a pressure test, no leak detected. I had already had car appraised at a local dealer JUST IN CASE. The mechanic looked at it again after we told them specific problems and found out to be a faulty water pump as is the problem with many Sonics. He said he had to remove a lot of plastic, so let's hope they can get it back in the right order. Car is not under warranty anymore, so I took it to a local.
This is the 2nd time we've had to add coolant in the last month. We keep the car in garage so we would notice leakage. We first noticed car blowing cold air when we tried to run heater, but didn't think anything of it since it was 30 degrees outside. We drove it for awhile then the light came on telling me to idle engine. Of course, I'm freaking out. I'm mad. #1 - no temp gauge for me to accurately assess how long it's been running hot. #2 - where the heck is the coolant?
Last night, it happened again. We stopped, let it cool down and inched it home. We weren't far from the house. I've looked at a lot of other choices and I'm not sure what to do. I wouldn't mind taking it to a shop but lots of people around here in podunk Missouri can't work on anything newer and I really don't want to take to dealership (car is paid off) unless I trade it in for something else!
When I got in the car last night, it was dinging about air pressure (granted the temp changed about 20 degrees). I know the tires will fluctuate in that state, then the coolant. I've ran salvage cars most of my life, I've had a few newer cars and one brand new car (not this one)... I'm thinking about just getting cash for it somewhere and buying a clunker with air bags.
Also the tires have drove me up a wall! Thin tires that I've had to replace twice within 2 months (2 different ones). If it wasn't for the tires making the ride rough and the coolant issue that may be a cracked head or something simple, I'd love this car. ALWAYS SOMETHING. The last GMC product I had (Acadia) the transmission was slipping, which was an ongoing problem but not recalled.
Update from Dec 30, 2019 Mechanic did a pressure test, no leak detected. I had already had car appraised at a local dealer JUST IN CASE. The mechanic looked at it again after we told them specific problems and found out to be a faulty water pump as is the problem with many Sonics. He said he had to remove a lot of plastic, so let's hope they can get it back in the right order. Car is not under warranty anymore, so I took it to a local.
Hopefully this fixes it. $250....
- Kalli W., Hayti, MO, US