Freeze plug leaking at rear of engine - 1997 Dodge Dakota

There are three plugs on each side of the block under the exhaust manifold and two in the rear of the block between the engine and transmission. If the rear freeze plug is leaking, it can be seen by antifreeze leaking out of the bottom of the transmission bell housing.

Yes, you have to pull the transmission. But look it over closely. Most likely the coolant is coming from somewhere else. I have never seen or replaced a bad freeze plug back there. Water can't get to them to rust them out from the outside in. Only if you use water only to cool the engine. Heater hoses and the intake manifold gaskets can cause a leak in this area.

old post.
This is really a suzuki G16 engine question
thats ok,
The G16s are used on Suzuki's and Trackers
Vitara's , Esteems, no others world wide.

I have all the photos and books on those cars.
real books and all parts lists. on them , graphics tool.
the freeze plugs (core plugs on all over.)
IN 1996 only one engine, G16b.
But all G16 blocks these are the same.
sides on all G16 base blocks.
2 left side 1 above filter, one just to rear of that, they are huge.
have to be blind to miss left side, (left means same as left car door)

the problem here is there are 2 engines in 1995, then one in 1996
the heads on both engine are NOT THE SAME>
the head is 8v and 16valves heads
and the 16v has freeze plugs in the top ,next to the cam. inside under valve cover !!!.

why not say where the leak is so we can narrow the search. or state the JOB?????????

i have photos of all parts in any G16.
there are no freeze plug in any 8valve head.
but the 16v yes !!!
the 16v head small inside plugs, if leaking turn the engine oil to milk chocolate fast and worse of driven. (just undid worst)

the blocks are the same, both engines, not pistons,
there are no front or rear engine block freeze plugs only side plugs 4 total.
and sure the right side under intake man will be hard to see. look under car right side to see em.
2 left easy to see and 2 right harder.
the right engine block has 2 freeze plugs one in easy view center , under intake man.
and one tucked behind that water manifold that can leak too.
now the last plugs
the 16valve head has a front freeze plug behind the cam cog wheel. and none on the rear of the head.
so 1 front and 3 inside, top.
My guess, G16b has 8 plugs total.
G16a has 4.

things that go POP in the night (cold night)
the rear water outlet fitting (head) does explode every time one runs this head on pure water, frozen, ask my how I know that, and what clueless girl did that,, heheheheheheheheh

If you are in the cold freeze region then it can be FREEZE PLUGS or head gasket,

Freeze plugs prevent the coolant from cracking the block.

The only fix is to replace the freeze plugs.

Water is leaking from the engine block rear freeze plugs, transmission will have to be remove to replace freeze plugs, there's two, I would also have the rear main seal replace at the same time, there there already, or if it starts to leak later, you will have to have the transmission remove again to replace seal, hope this was very helpful.

If its the rear of the engine thats sounds like a freeze plug went rusty. Make sure its not something else like a heater hose or something leaking and running down the back of the engine. If it is a rear freeze plug the trans will need to be removed to replace it. Please, do your self a favor and use only brass freeze plugs they never rot.

Have you checked to see if a freeze plug came out of the engine?

might be a freeze plug leaking, or heater hose. there are three freeze plugs on each side of engine and two in back of engine. most likely if any of them are leaking, it will be the one behind the starter on the far right rear of engine block. they have also been known to leak around the front and rear of intake, where intake, head, and block meet.

Sounds like your right rear freeze plugs are probably leaking .. but first you need to make sure its not coming from up around the rear of the intake before pulling the transmission . this would be the best way to fix this problem .. thanks jerry holler if you need more.