Leaking coolant

[middknight1]

Alright so after replacing the water pump and all the goodies that go with it, I still have a coolant leak on the belt side of the engine. I had a major one before the repair and doing the work has slowed it down a lot. I am fearful that having the water pump bad for so long that maybe I have blown the head gasket or worst yet cracked the cylinder. I acutally have had a misfire on 2 for a while but I rarely get the CEL to kick on. Only under heavy clutch and not enough gas or having the A/C on occasionally will throw the CEL. I have scanned multiple times and get the same code everytime. It will reset itself and as long as I drive normally without a lead foot everything runs fine. Any ideas or advice anyone may have for me?

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by middknight1

Alright so after replacing the water pump and all the goodies that go with it, I still have a coolant leak on the belt side of the engine. I had a major one before the repair and doing the work has slowed it down a lot. I am fearful that having the water pump bad for so long that maybe I have blown the head gasket or worst yet cracked the cylinder. I acutally have had a misfire on 2 for a while but I rarely get the CEL to kick on. Only under heavy clutch and not enough gas or having the A/C on occasionally will throw the CEL. I have scanned multiple times and get the same code everytime. It will reset itself and as long as I drive normally without a lead foot everything runs fine. Any ideas or advice anyone may have for me?

What is the code? If you are using G12 coolant then there should be a pink trail showing exactly where the leak is, any sign??

[middknight1]

I don't have the code with me right now its in the car actually. the coolant appears to be coming straight down the engine around the crank balance pulley. same sypmtoms as a faulty water pump i would imagine.

[savethebluths.org]

I have the same problem right after I replaced mine also, I thought it was the belt side but it was actually the thermostat gasket and heart valve, the trail I saw was residual from the belt replacement. Or so I hope.

[archiebug]

The thermostat is on the front, not side of the engine. If the thermostat was leaking it would go straight down under the car at the front, not from the side.

The mating face of the water pump on the engine was ok, not corroded or damaged?

[middknight1]

there was no damage to the face of the pump or to its mating location. I still feel inside to make sure there was no damage on the interior, loose metal parts, or debris. The heart valve is on the driver side of the compartment and i don't see any trails coming across the rear of the engine. appears to be leaking and running across the oil pan on the rear passenger side corner of the pan.

[simonsi]

Its possible the o-ring on the new water pump was nicked as it was put in and is weeping...

[middknight1]

looks like we get to credit savethebluffs!!! it was a leaking thermostat housing. it was cracked and the o-ring for it was very smashed. got that all replaced today. wa a bigger pita than i thought it was gonna be.....made me late fore work today!!!