My car started to overheat. I checked it out, and found a hole in a small radiator type hose. The hose is top left (facing the engine), is about 8" long, and comes from a black cylinder shaped object. Curious...Does coolant only get pushed through this hose occasionally? Anyway, I replaced the hose, topped-off my coolant, and thought I solved my problem...but I did not. I drove a couple miles, and it overheated again. I pulled over, turned off car, and found a large puddle of coolant on the ground. I looked under car, and saw a steady drip, but it was at the center of car right behind the front tires, and coming off a undercarriage guard or shroud. I assume it's actually leaking from somewhere forward of that, but I can not tell. See no leaks coming from typical places when I look under the hood, like radiator and hoses. So, I topped fluids again, and drove home. Now, there are no signs of anything being wrong! No drip or puddle...drove down my street a couple times, and it's not overheating. I'm baffled. Appreciate any help with this.

Do this when the engine is COLD! You will need the thermostat, gaskets and gasket sealant.
The basic method is...
Locate the Thermostat housing. On your vehicle it should be on the gearbox end of the engine. To check, find the largest hose at the top of the radiator and follow it back towards the engine.
Drain the coolant from the system into a suitable container. If there isn't a drain plug fitted in the bottom of the radiator you will need to remove a hose from the bottom of the radiator.
Remove the bolts holding the housing in place. They should not be in that tight.
Remove the old thermostat. Clean the area where the old gasket sat. It needs to be bare metal. Stuff a small rag in the hole to stop any rubbish falling into the coolant system.
Fit the new thermostat with the spring end going into the engine. Apply a small amount of sealant to the face on the engine side to hold the gasket in place. Apply another Small amount of sealant around the whole face of the Housing.
Refit the housing. Tighten the bolts by hand then tighten to the correct torque setting. (17 to 20Nm, 12.5 to 17ft/lbs).
Refill the coolant system. Start the engine and run at idle until it reaches working temperature. This will open the thermostat allowing the radiator to fill. Stop the engine and Recheck the coolant level.
Run the vehicle for two or three days checking the coolant levels regularly.

Whith the car cool
1- Remove the radiator cap
2- Disconnect the TOP hose FROM the radiator
3- With a garden hose or a bucket of water ready
4- Start the engine
5- As old coolant fluid flows from the top hose to the floor
6- Pour fresh water on the radiator so it doesn't dry
7- When you see clear water coming from the top hose
8- You have rinsed the cooling system of the engine
9- Start pouring refrigerant on the radiator
10- As you start to see refrigerant pouring from the top hose
11- Now you have only refrigerant on your system as you should
12- Quickly reconnect the top hose to the radiator
13- The problem should be solved

Possible trapped in system. Bleed system, should have two small screw bleeders, one in front of left valve cover on pipe behind water pump and the other on coolant pipe outlet as you follow upper rad. hose towards engine. Engine cool, remove rad cap, open both bleed screws and fill rad until coolant flows free out both bleed ports. close both bleed screws, rad cap off, start engine and let idle until upper hose is hot to touch , shut off, let it cool down for 20 minutes, top up rad and install cap. restart car ,drive and check.

Check the cooling fan, maybe is not turning on

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

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Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

CAR OVERHEATING FIRST CHECK FOR LOW COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG.IF COOLANT LEVEL IN OVERFLOW JUG LOW REFILL ADD COOLANT BACK TO THE FULL COLD MARK.PUT RADAITOR CAP ON COOLANT OVERFLOW JUG START ENGINE LET IT IDLE UNTIL IT OPERATING TEMPERATURE.MAKE SURE TOP RADIATOR HOSE GETTING HOT WHILE ENGINE WARM UP.IF TOP RADIATOR HOSE DONT GET HOT WHILE ENGINE IDLING YOUR THERMOSTAT COULD BE STUCK CLOSE CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT.IF TOP HOSE IS GETTING HOT.CHECK FOR COOLANT LEAKS CHECK TOP RADIATOR HOSE AND BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE FOR LEAKS.CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR CORES AND PLASTIC SIDE CONTAINERS.IF ALL IS GOOD ENGINE OVERHEATING WHILE IN A LONG TRAFFIC LINE, COOLANT FANS NOT COMING ON.COULD HAVE FAULTY ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OR BLOWN COOLING FAN FUSE OR RELAY.COULD HAVE PCM FAULT.MAKE COOLING FAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND WIRING NOT DAMAGE OR BROKEN.

That is your radiator plug. You take it out to drain the radiator. You just take it out and put another one in. Is your radiator fans working? It may be the radiator itself. Plus, it may be a coolant temp sensor. If it is a small leak, with full coolant, it wouldn't overheat quickly. Make sure the fans kick on. Check radiator.

ENGINE NOT GOING TO START IF GET TOO HOT FIRST THING I WOULD REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP THEN ADD COOLANT UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL CORRECT THATS WHEN THERMOSTAT OPEN UP AND TOP HOSE HOT.CHECK FOR LEAKING RADIATOR HOSES CHECK TOP RADIATOR HOSE CHECK BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE.CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND THE RADIATOR LOOK DOWN BELOW COOLANTS FANS CHECK FOR LEAKS AT RADIATOR CORES OR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR PLASTIC SIDE CONTAINERS. CHECK FOR LEAKS AT WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE AND CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE HEATER HOSES AROUND ENGINE BLOCK TO THE HEATER CORE HOSES. THERE IS A REASON CAR OVERHEAT.IF CAR OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING YOU HAVE FAULTY THERMOSTAT OR LEAKING OUT COOLANT OR BLOWN HEAD GASKET.IF ENGINE OVER HEAT WHILE SITTING DURING A LONG IDLING PERIOD.YOU COULD HAVE FAULTY COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OR FAULTY COOLING FAN FUSE OR RELAY.HOT WIRE COOLANT TO SEE IF IT RUNS IF NO REPLACE FAN MOTOR. IF YES FAN MOTOR COULD HAVE FAULTY WIRE OR PCM FAILURE. CHECK ENGINE CRANKCASE IF OIL LOOKS LIKE MILK SHAKE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING.

The hole in the hose will cause it to overheat through water loss and pressure loss. Replace the hose first and see how it works.

if you have a hole on the hose you going to overheat.......replace hose as soon as you can
don't drive while is overheating.

G