So today I was driving the car pretty hard, just because its been sitting up all winter. I drove maybe 40 miles and parked it for about 3 hours. Came back out and started it up to go to the store and the "Add Coolant" light came on. So I popped the hood and all the water in the resevoir was gone and it was about an inch from the top of the radiator.

All the hoses are good. Its dark so I didnt check the radiator. Just wondering if there are any common leaks I may need to check.

 

uhmmmm! recheck all teh coolant lines/....radiator? and if you dont find anything i'd say just baby your car!!! B/C its time 4 a rebuild=(

 

Not any particular place. Either going to be a water pump/radiator/loose hose clamp/one of the various coolant hoses or heater core. Hopefully it's not internally.
Just take it in and have the system pressure tested. Visually do all the regular things as far as checking hose clamps. Looking for trails of coolant, especially bottom of water pump. rx7doctor

 

As far as it possibly being internal, well, it doesnt smoke ever. So where would the water be dumping if it was internally? It has 180k miles so I am definetly looking at a rebuild in the near future. But I was hoping to wait another 6 months or so.

 

doubt it happened but if u have milky oil it could be going into ur oil pan via a blown outer ring seal thinger...

 

Pull the dipstick and check the condition of the oil.

Hopefully though you could smell '****' when you drove and that means a leak. In that case, since you can't see the leak, take the whole car to a rad shop for a pressure test.

 

Mine pukes a little coolant from the heater core line (I think thats what it goes to) that passes across the engine bay up high right next to the firewall...its a pin hole in the hose...took me a while to track it down cause it only leaks when I'm driving or its reved up...spills a lil on the engine, sometimes drips down the firewall...

 

I bypassed my heater core to prevent water from coming inside the passenger compartment. When your heater control valve erodes, it will cause hot coolant to spit out on your accelerator pedal (and foot) when you step on it. Not a comfortable experience.

I don't recommend bypassing your heater unless you live in the desert like me, or like to wear jackets when you drive in cold weather!

 

some of the larger auto parts stores will "loan/rent" pressure test kits they are a hand pump with a gauge and an adapter you put on the radiator cap this way you could look for the leak yourself

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Thanks for all the input and advice. Found the leak...water pump was the culprit.
Now, is changing a water pump as hard as it looks in the Haynes Manual?

 

Piece of cake to do. Biggest pain in the neck is the removal o fthe bottom hose.
Just a tip, replace the hose while you have it off. also replace the t-stat and flush the system. rx7doctor

 

Changing the waterpump is actually very simple. Should take less than an hour.

1. Remove clutch fan
2. Disconnect upper and lower radiator hoses
3. Drain coolant
4. Remove belts
5. Very gently disconnect OMP lines at OMP.( to provide clearance without damaging them)
6. Take out pump retaining bolts.
7. Using a rubber mallet, tap the pump where it meets the pump housing
8. Pull out the waterpump
9. Make sure you get the gasket off completely from the housing
10. Install new gasket and pump, then HAPPY ROTORING!

PS. This would probably be a good time to replace the thermostat also. Since you are there anyhow right?