bad water pump & coolant leak?
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: New Orleans LA
bad water pump & coolant leak?
I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what to do first.... I just got a 1990 GXL NA, and the guy who sold it to me said it needed a new water pump and there's a coolant leak.... the coolant tank stays full but after a while the ADD COOLANT warning goes off, and I have to stop and add more coolant in the radiator.... Any advice on what I should do first ?
I wish I was driving!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,241
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From: BC, Canada
In order of likelihood:
Run the car for about an hour somewhere flat and on pavement and check for pooling of coolant. If there is puddling, check all of the hoses and clamps, especially the one below the oil filter. When the filter are changed and oil gets on the hose, it ahse a tendency to soften the rubber and make it prone to slowly seeping out coolant before splitting into a big hole.
if not on the ground, check for white exhaust. This means coolant is seeping into the combustion chamber, converted to steam in the combustion process, and the engine will need a rebuild. You should be able to smell/taste coolant in the exhaust, as well.
If its not from a hose, but still on the grond, it is leaking from the housings --> rebuild time.
Sean Cathcart
Run the car for about an hour somewhere flat and on pavement and check for pooling of coolant. If there is puddling, check all of the hoses and clamps, especially the one below the oil filter. When the filter are changed and oil gets on the hose, it ahse a tendency to soften the rubber and make it prone to slowly seeping out coolant before splitting into a big hole.
if not on the ground, check for white exhaust. This means coolant is seeping into the combustion chamber, converted to steam in the combustion process, and the engine will need a rebuild. You should be able to smell/taste coolant in the exhaust, as well.
If its not from a hose, but still on the grond, it is leaking from the housings --> rebuild time.
Sean Cathcart
Chances are the leak is the water pump its self leaking I would replace that first. Make sure you get the right one for the series 5 engine (s5). The series 4 (s4) has a different bolt pattern. Its rather easy but you have to take all the belts off so remeber which is which
Good luck
Good luck
Full Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 63
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From: San Francisco
My experiences
during rebuild, waterpump tested OK.
After rebuild water pump failed. New pump and gaskets.
After my that I found "signs" coolant leaking on the passenger side of the engine, unable to trace. In the shop the mechanic placed a pump in place of the radiator cap and under pressure seepage was seen under the elbow (where thermostat is located) between radiator hose and the engine block. Further inspection revealed that "cruddy" threads prevented seal. Mechanic ran tap through bolt holes and elbow was able to seal.
Later (just last week) coolant light came on - found that this space-age plastic elbow had coroded internally where the elbow fits inside the radiator hose, causing seepage. New elbow ordered.
Hoep This Helps
TJ
After rebuild water pump failed. New pump and gaskets.
After my that I found "signs" coolant leaking on the passenger side of the engine, unable to trace. In the shop the mechanic placed a pump in place of the radiator cap and under pressure seepage was seen under the elbow (where thermostat is located) between radiator hose and the engine block. Further inspection revealed that "cruddy" threads prevented seal. Mechanic ran tap through bolt holes and elbow was able to seal.
Later (just last week) coolant light came on - found that this space-age plastic elbow had coroded internally where the elbow fits inside the radiator hose, causing seepage. New elbow ordered.
Hoep This Helps
TJ
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