car leaking antifreeze. water pump?

[jstreett]

I woke up this morning and there was a big puddle of antifreeze under my car. just about where the water pump is. so if there anyway i can text something to see if my water pump went bad? also if i need to buy a new water pump i should replace the timing belt as well?

 

[RBehne2]

Go to your local auto parts store, Rent a Cooling system pressure tester. Apply pressure, find the leak.

It may be the seal behind the pump on the water pipe. But depending on how many miles are on the car, its probably worth it to go forward with the belt and pump change.

 

[haswesley]

If you don't know how many miles are on the timing belt and components, definitely change them. Especially if your already under the timing cover changing the water pump. I agree with RBehne2, it may just be the inlet tube into the back of the water pump leaking. Mine did a while back and I thought it was my water pump. I just put some extra silicone around the inlet tube and problem solved.

 

[And_44]

If it does turn out to be gasket on water pump to engine block a +1 on timing belt job, balance shaft belt. BUT it may just be the o-ring for the water inlet pipe. That is way easier to fix then water pump job. and it drips in almost same location but just slightly forward.

To replace the o-ring on inlet pipe. Depending on your exhaust manifold, access to pipe may be easy or slightly time consuming, there is a bolt on the front part on the head right below the #4 and #2 runner it was a 12mm bolt for me. But that bolt and another one right below the thermostat housing hold on the pipe to the block. Removing these 2 bolts will allow you to pull the pipe away from the water pump. Doing so you can remove the o-ring clean up the surface, and then lube up a new o-ring with COOLANT and reinstall it. Using RTV as a fix will work for a bit, but it will fail you again. I'd recommend getting the o-ring from the dealership 100%. The o-ring at my local dealership with tax came to $6.67, and cost me about 3 hours of my own labor in removing and installing my exhaust manifold (had to remove/install to gain access to the one 12mm bolt for pipe below it).

The o-rings from a parts store may do, but being cheap your getting cheap material and quality. They may be inferior or slight smaller and not seal right.

 

[jstreett]

alright thanks for the help guys

 

[turboeclipse99]

it might be the water lines aswell. but i would do the timing belt like mentioned ... i went to partsdinosaurs.com wnd spent 212 shipped on the timing belt kit( timing belt, water pump, pulleys, and the adjustable hydraulic tensioner) well worth the price

 

[Spartan coll]

I have a leak as well on my RS and and i looked at it from beneath my car and it seems to be leaking riggt from the bottom of the engine block.

 

[DSM1G90]

Had a leak as well...return line from the heater core that came from the WP, and the small crossover hose that fed to the intake manifold were my two areas of leakage.

Had to replace both lines.

-DSM