Water pump leaking?

SVXdc · #1 09-13-2007, 12:33 AM

I'm trying to determine where a coolant leak is coming from. It appears to be from or near the water pump. Has anyone seen something like this?

The top tank of my radiator burst recently, and today I just finished installing a new one (Silla) along with the new hoses that attach to it (upper, lower, and two ATF), plus thermostat and gasket. I have many nice pics that I'll post soon.

As soon as I filled it with water (and even before running the engine) it started leaking from somewhere near the water pump. It's a very fast drip when the radiator cap is off, but eventually stops with the cap on (and immediately resumes when I remove the cap again).

It does not appear to be coming from either of the heater/bypass hoses. It seems to be dripping down from higher up, but I can't tell how far up.

I think this leak may have been what caused the radiator to burst (due to low coolant level and high ambient temperatures recently), rather than the other way around. The overflow tank kept emptying, and I kept adding water to it but didn't check the level inside the radiator as often as I probably should have.

Car has 114K miles. Original water pump.

Could it be just the water pump gasket, or is it likely to be coming from the water pump's bearing/seal?

First pic shows thermostat cover (before lower radio hose attached). View is from under front bumper, looking towards rear of car). Leak is not visible from this angle:

Second pic is close-up showing spot where leak drips:

Added: Arrow points to where beads of water form. There's no hole there. If you look closely, you can see the wet trail from further up, on the side closest to the oil pan.

Is there anything else I can do or look at before I pull off the water pump?

subarufamily · #2 09-13-2007, 02:35 AM

that spot is the weep hole for the water pump as i just had mine replaced by the steelership ( why, I am a stupid SOB ) i would assume (and you know what you get when you assume) that you have a failing water pump. dont drive it unless needed it can cause rapid engine failure

TomsSVX · #3 09-13-2007, 08:34 AM

I am having a similar issue with much more of a leak. I am going to do some investigating in the next couple days after I make my exhaust

Tom

SVXdc · #4 09-13-2007, 10:52 AM

There's no hole where the bead of water forms. The water streams down from farther up.

See edited comment in my first post.

In any case, the rate is much faster than what should be coming out the weep hole. I only tried briefly, but I think it came out nearly as fast with the engine running as when I had the radiator cap off (before I started the engine).

Is there anything else I can remove to be able to see more, such as the driver-side timing belt cover?

SilverSpear · #5 09-13-2007, 11:16 AM

If the water pump is leaking, it means it needs to be replaced... don't bother trying to fix it.

SVXdc · #6 09-13-2007, 12:02 PM

Yes, I've been advised that rebuilding a water pump is a job for people who want to do that for a living, not owners.

I'm just trying to make sure the problem isn't some silly hose hidden behind the water pump. Or the gasket between the pump and the engine.

But it is looking like the pump's internal seals have failed.

If I do have to replace the water pump, what else do I need to buy besides the pump and gasket?

I had a new timing belt installed recently enough (only 45K on the new one) that I won't replace that again just yet — that's another $100+ I don't need to spend right now.