Tia1991

Hey everyone. I have a 2000 honda civic ex. It was finally until this morning when it started overheating. I pulled over and saw bright green fluid pouring out which I'm assuming is antifreeze. Also the heater was cold. Got it home to look at and I seems like it's leaking from the bottom of the radiator out of, I think, the transmission coolant line. Is that normal? Other than that everything looks fine.

Realboybuilt

Check the radiator for cracks, the hoses and clamps as well they tend to leak.

Tia1991

ok. Also, I can see it dripping from the transmission coolant line but I didn't know if antifreeze could leak from there?

mk378

Yo could try tightening the big nut that holds the transmission cooler inside the radiator, but probably the radiator needs to be replaced. The transmission cooler is not removable.

Tia1991

ok. I think it might be the line or hose that goes into the bottomof the radiator. My radiator has the bigger upper and lower hoses them theres another small hose that comes out of the bottom of the radiator. Is that the transmission coolant line? That's where it's leaking at.

mk378

Automatic cars have two small hoses from the transmission to the bottom of the radiator. These hoses contain transmission fluid, not coolant. But coolant can leak from the radiator where the hoses attach. Or it could be like many leaks where it is actually escaping from a different place and dripping down. Plastic radiators tend to crack after 10 or 15 years.

You can easily remove the radiator fan for a better look. Remove the two bolts at the top, unplug the wire, and pull it out straight up. The bottom of the fan clips to the radiator it does not need to be unbolted.

rfmerrill

I have the same car. If you still have the stock radiator it's an aluminum core with plastic tanks. They all eventually fail where the plastic and metal come together. Replacement radiator is cheap and replacement is really easy and can be done without even having to jack the car up, although having a long pair of right-angle needle nose pliers or hose pliers makes it easier.

I followed this video to replace my radiator and the instructions are pretty much dead on:
The hardest part was disconnecting and reconnecting the transmission fluid lines, and it was hard mainly because I did not have the tool that eric uses. Also since you're going to lose transmission fluid in the radiator replacement it wouldn't hurt to check it (see manual for how!) and top it up.