antifreeze is leaking and spots going on my windsheld

ANSWER : Hi…stop leak products should never be introduced into a car engine’s cooling system simply because such aftermarket products are not a factory authorized or factory sanctioned repair technique. Some factory service manuals are indeed emphatic on this issue. A stop leak product is, in essence, a foreign contaminant and thus has the potential to plug up cooling passageways, the radiator and so forth. The only recognized technique employed by professional mechanics when it comes to a leak in the cooling system is to repair the leak, period. At this point, by far the cheapest and most effective strategy for you will be to have a mechanic identify the leak(s) (via pressure testing, if need be, on a cold engine), repair the leak, and thoroughly flush the cooling system to hopefully remove all traces of the stop leak product. The cooling system has to then be refilled with new coolant, while purging all air, and tested. On a vehicle with over 200,000 miles, it is possible the leak occurred along with other cooling system faults such as a failing thermostat, water pump, and possibly partly clogged passageways, particularly in the radiator. All of that will have to be evaluated to ensure that no further overheating occurs. To get this resolved promptly and professionally, by all means please feel free to request a leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get you squared away. If you have additional concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you provided, your vehicle has problems with the transmission again. You stated it will not shift into 3rd gear again, like before the transmission was rebuilt. If the transmission is again the problem, it should be covered under warranty. It could be a faulty shift solenoid. The shift indicator not reading properly could be a faulty transmission position sensor. If this is an overall lack of performance issue, according to your last statement, then possibly you have a restriction in the exhaust system. I recommend having your vehicle’s problems inspected and diagnosed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.

ANSWER : It is possible that your turbo is cooled with engine coolant and has sprung a leak. This would cause coolant to leak into the exhaust system because the turbo is connected to the exhaust system. It is also possible that because there is a turbo issue, this is preventing the vehicle from starting. I would recommend having any trouble codes read with an OBD2 scanner and going from there with the diagnosis. Consider YourMechanic for a car is not starting inspection as this can be done at your home or office.

ANSWER : Hi there. When a car is slow to accelerate it can be caused by multiple issues, ranging from fuel systems that are clogged or damaged to an ignition system component failure. It is also possible that something in the driveline system is dragging which causes the lack of acceleration. Since there are so many different possible issues, the best way to start the diagnosis process is to have a professional mobile mechanic from our team come to your location and complete a car is slow to accelerate inspection.

ANSWER : I would introduce UV leak detection dye into the system, pressurize the system while cold, and leave the system under pressure overnight (the pressure will slowly bleed off somewhat but such will not affect the test). If there is any external leak of significance, it will show up under the UV light.

If no leak is present and yet you still have a leak once the engine runs and gets hot, that means that the leak is between two surfaces that are opening up under hot engine operation. But the same protocol applies. That is, at that point, inasmuch as the leak detection dye is still in the system, you should just let the engine cool completely and use your UV light source again to methodically check all of the obvious possible areas of the system that could leak.

I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, perform an inspection to determine the source of the coolant leak and suggest any needed repairs.

ANSWER : Hi there. You will need to first find the coolant leak and address the leak and get it fixed. The engine may overheat and cause even more problems. The transmission or engine misfires could be from the coolant leak if the coolant is getting onto the wiring of the engine. You may also be going into failure mode if the engine is running hot. Have the cooling system diagnosed and repaired first and any coolant leaks on the harnesses cleaned of coolant that may have got in connections. Then scan and test systems for further problems and diagnosis needed.

ANSWER : Coolant leaks no matter how big or small should be addressed as soon as possible. As you noticed, the engine will run hot with a low coolant level. Even a minor leak can expand to a large or catastrophic leak with no warning. A minor repair now can turn into engine overheat and damage. The leak can be small enough now that it is burning away when contacting hot surfaces and not hitting the ground. If the radiator leaking is the cause of the coolant loss, then it should be replaced as soon as possible. The cooling system operates under pressure – usually 12-15 psi. A small leak can become a large leak because of the pressure. Have a certified technician address this as soon as possible. Do not use "coolant leak sealer" products as they are a temporary fix and can actually cause more damage by clogging small coolant passages and damage the water pump as well.

ANSWER : Engine coolant can leak externally through a hose, radiator, water pump, etc. External leaks are typically found by simple pressure testing of the cooling system. To find the leak that exists in your case, and get the required repair estimated, please request an engine cooling system leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.