mainstreetmark

I've put a gallon of coolant in since Wednesday.

I originally blamed one of my radiator caps (I have two!) with terribly deteriorated rubber. Opening it up revealed it to be all gone now, so I replaced it, thinking the problem had been solved.

It has not been. Yesterday, I drove about 150 miles total, and ended up putting a quart or two of coolant in. Had me worried.

Today, only about 20 miles (10 miles, then six hours later, another 10 miles), and put about the same amount of coolant in.

I believe this is good news because it means there's probably some external leak or some loss that's a function of time rather than miles. Tomorrow, the first time I had time in the daylight, I'll go inspect for leaks, and I hope to find a coolant puddle in the driveway.

But, since it's 1 AM now, I thought I'd share my thoughts.

kel

I would check the lower heater hose. it's on the left side of the engine down low close to the firewall. It's below the oil pressure sender and kinda hard to see. I've had it crack on two different Gen2s and you lose coolant like a seive.
One thing to look out for, is white smoke and a maple syrup smell from the exhaust. That would indicate you're burning it. There is a flaw in the design of the intermediate housing which can fracture causing coolant to leak into the combustion chamber - acting just like a blown head gasket on one of those inferior engines. Problem being, is that the in the rotary, it's a lot more serious than a gasket. You would need to replace the intermediate housing and and likely rebuild the engine.
Most likely, you've got a crack in a hose.

Good luck!

- kel -

mainstreetmark

Dang, it appears to be the water pump, between the pump and the block.

A significant stream of green fluid appears to be coming from an area on the bottom of the water pump.

How can I tell if I have a bad pump or a bad gasket? (110k miles)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2427301617 ??

Black13B

iTrader: (1)

While we are on the topic (hopefully it can give mainstreetmark some options)

Can you rebuild your water pump?

I have a spare, I would like to rebuild it if possible. It works, but rebuilding it would help.

Is there some kind of kit available? Anyone know?

Amur_

Are you sure that the stream isn't coming from under/below the pulley? There is a weep hole there and when coolant comes out of it the pump must be replaced.

Rebuilt units are relatively cheap (cheaper than the dealership) and can be found at most parts shops. That, or hit a wreckers...

My88Se

iTrader: (10)

I have heard of that weap hole going many times, giving the same exact symptoms as its giving you. I think your best bet is to just get a new one.

mainstreetmark

naa, the stream is coming from the opposite side than the pully, by the block.

I got the damn thing half-removed, but can't seem to get the main assembly around the engine pully, and I can't figure out how to get the engine pully off.

But, since I haven't eaten anything all day except beer, and broke the two bolts by the t-stat, I figured I'd just order a new one regardless.

Amur_

Take the pulley off of the pump before you remove it.


And since it isn't 'leaking' from the weep hole, I'd suggest replacing the gasket. Put a little (NOT GOBS!) RTV on both sides of the gasket before installing...

mainstreetmark

Any hints on that? When I put the socket on the end of the pully, the ratchet just ends up turning the whole shaft.

Amur_

Put everything back together. You're going to let the belts help to hold the pulley still.

Now put one hand on the pulley (wear a glove) and one on your rachet/wrench and give 'er ****!

You are attempting to remove the four bolts on the head of the pulley, right? You should be.

mainstreetmark

I had those 4 bolts off already. The pully didn't budge much, and I didn't feel like whacking it, without being sure of what I was doing.

So, definatly the four small ones, not the large one? or that one too?

Amur_

The 'large one' is round, isn't it? That's the end of the shaft that the pulley is mounted on. Good luck fitting a wrench on it.

Just give the pulley a few whacks on each side to work it off. It's all steel in there, so you won't break anything. But don't try for a homerun, either.

Black13B

iTrader: (1)

That's how it was for me pulling it off my spare water pump..

mainstreetmark

You guys were right (of course), just the four small bolts and some persuasive ball-peening got those suckers off.

BUT, in the process of removing the pump, I turned the heads off of both the screws at the therostat, and I can't get them out. (I even gripped the heads with the vice, but actually ended up putting a notch in the vice).

And, since I hate drilling screws out and the pump is 110,000 miles old, maybe I should bite it and get a new one.

Amur_

Are you saying that the shafts of two bolts are now stuck in the housing that the pump was mounted to?

mainstreetmark

No, I'm talking about the two bolts that hold on the part for the upper radiator hose, where the thermostat sits.

I soaked both of them with bolt buster for about an hour now, and managed to get one out. If I can't get the other out, I may have to drill it through and replace it with a long bolt and nut.

Amur_

You fucked up.


But you know that already, don't you.

Black13B

iTrader: (1)

My GXL's thermostat housing is like that.

IT ******* SUCKS.

Just a heads up. It seriously sucks.. like not just a little bit, it sucks alot. Try your best to avoid having to use a long bolt w/ nut.

mainstreetmark

Yeah, well, it appears that the last time this part was apart, someone used some gasket goo. The thermostat's stuck in there pretty good too, but since it's working, I haven't felt the need to pry it out.