SLAMDIT Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 Hey guys, Some of you may remember that I was askin about changin a water pump last week. Well, I got the water pump off and it didn't look bad at all so I just changed the seal. I put the car back together and started it and let it idle. No leak. Then I got back to putting the interior together. I am leavin for Biloxi thursday so I have a ton of work to do. Well, tonite I got the car ready to be in a show. I am trailering the car but I decided to run it down the road for a quick drive. I haven't driven the car with full interior since last October so I wanted to see how much quieter it was with carpet and door panels. Well, I got down the road and just as I was pullin into my driveway, the "low coolant" light came on and so did "check gauges" and the temp was rising. I shut it down and coasted into the driveway and popped the hood. The damn thing was blowin coolant in the exact same place. It appears to be spraying out and then running down the block and dripping off a ground wire on the block near the passenger side axle. The worst part is we can't find the leak. It almost seems that it is leaking from behind the water pump or something. We checked the hose and it is in good shape. The water pump is just a little thing but it looks like it bolts into some sort of aluminum housing. Does anyone have any ideas at all? I can still take to car to the show but I would like to be able to drive it around on the gulf coast while I am down there. Thanx a ton!!!! Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 a water pump is SOOO cheap I would just get another. it could be leaking out the pump's weap hole. on the other hand, maybe you have a failing intake gasket, which is leaking externally. Just in case...check your oil, make sure it's not high, and not MILKY!!! may I propose a 'quick fix'? remove the seal from the radiator cap, the inner smaller one that keeps pressure, but allows coolant to flow too and from the reservoir. running the system without it will effectively give you a zero pressure system, and allow you to delay the inevitable gasket replacement, as the leak may not occur unless the system reaches normal pressure. good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAMDIT Posted June 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 Hmm, so ure sayin that the intake gasket could be leakin and that is where it is coming from? It almost appears that the spray from the leak is coming from where the radiator hose meets the water pump. That isn't the leak problem but it gives the illusion of the leak coming from the hose. Would the intake gasket leak be leaking from somewhere that I could see or is it hidden? I am not familiar with the 3.1 without looking at it. With only 68,000 miles on the car i have never had mechanical trouble. Also, what is the weap hole? Would that make it leak out of the back of the pump? With the pully on I can't see if the back of the pump is leaking and when I take off the pulley I can't run the car to make it leak. Maybe I should just douse it with gas and collect the insurance money? Thanx for ure help man! Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach 5 Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 you could also pour about a pound of black pepper corns or oatmeal in the radiator and flush with water till leak stops for a temporary quick fix. Also the radiator cap should be turned about an 1/8 of a turn to relieve a little bit of pressure within the system. If its a small hole in the block or pump, plug it with JB Weld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 well, it sound like you are sure of the general location... an intake leak (probably in the front head to intake connection, may cause coolant to trickle down...check the area where the intake valley meets the heads and block. the weep hole is a small hole designed to allow water out when the pump finally starts failing. You might have seen indications of staining at the lower hole. But it might just be a bad or loose lower radiator hose. loosen it, wiggle it and re-tighten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mach 5 Posted June 21, 2006 Report Share Posted June 21, 2006 check for dry rot and cracks as well in that hose. Also, loosen the tension on the belt and spin the water pump pulley. If it spin without a sound or without wobbling its good. Also, Check that outlet pipe that comes out of the pump. The gasket could be shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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