two coolant leaks

[thebetterman]

My car has been burning coolant lately and when I looked at where the leaks
were I noticed a puddle of coolant sitting under the very bottom driver side of the radiator
and I also found a leak on the passenger side of the motor that was dripping down onto the
cats and burning. What would be the cause of these two leaks?

 

[Emerald94]

My guess would be, for the passenger side anyways, the coolant reservoir or (gasp!!) your water pump. My pump is leaking right now but it's slow enough. I'm getting my timing belt replaced in a few weeks so I'll replace the pump at the same time.

 

[thebetterman]

so approximately how much would it cost to replace the water pump. And what else would it be worth replacing while the water pump is being replaced?

 

[sdpatt]

The driver side leak is either from the upper radiator hose (easy to check and to replace) or the end tank seal on the radiator (not so cheap or as easy).

The passenger side leak may be coming from the water pump seep hole. Get down on your knees and look at the lower timing belt cover directly below the crankshaft damper. Do you see any coolant (or oil) dripping from this location. The coolant would be coming from the water pump and the oil would be coming from the front main crankshaft seal. Slow leaks in these components aren't a big problem, but the result is that the coolant or oil drips onto the front bank cat and smokes up a stink.

If the leak is from the lower radiator hose or the passenger side end tank seal, then you would have to replace the hose and/or the radiator.

Now, if the water pump is the source, are you ready for a timing belt change? I recommend the rebuilt Ford pumps from A1 Cardone that are sold by O'Reilly auto parts (or other) for about $65 with a lifetime warranty. To access the water pump, you should also remove the timing belt to prevent getting any coolant on it (almost guaranteed if the belt is installed). While you are in there, you should consider replacing the front main seal (if leaking), the crankshaft position sensor (if it has been in longer than 120,000 miles) and the accessory belt(s). If it is indeed the water pump, let us know and I will give you infor on the lowest priced sources for these components.

 

[Diameg]

thebetterman,

Also of note, I recently had coolant dripping from several places along the front. Getting under the car, I could easily see what it was.
The end tank was leaking from the rad just below the upper rad hose (as Scott mentioned).
That was dripping onto the frame located directly below that and carrying all along the frame and dripping from whatever part of that it wanted to.
So, all I needed was a new rad hose.

Where are you in Canada? Are you in Ontario?
Anyways, I purchased an aluminum core rad from PartSource for $170, replaced it, and no more leak.

<small>[ March 09, 2002, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Diameg ]</small>

 

[thebetterman]

I'm actually from Saskatchewan and what you said about the leak on the driver side dripping from the upper rad hose and on to the frame below it is exactly what it looks like under my car. I looked at the other leak on the driver side and its dripping where sdpatt said it was on to the cat. You can see the smoke from the coolant dripping on the cats by looking down from the top of the engine. But just to make sure I know exactly where the leaks are coming from I'm taking it to my friends heated shop to check them out. Also does anybody know a good parts source for the SHO near Saskatchewan.

 

[pjtoledo]

thebetterman:
My car has been burning coolant lately and when I looked at where the leaks
were I noticed a puddle of coolant sitting under the very bottom driver side of the radiator
and I also found a leak on the passenger side of the motor that was dripping down onto the
cats and burning. What would be the cause of these two leaks?

Reduce the tension on the 4 rib belt, that usually reduces the leak from the water pump, and sometimes eliminates it all together. May buy you several months or more the water pump needs replacing.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[philw349]

Ok, just to save thread space, I have a problem with my water pump leaking right now too. I had the 60k done about 28,000 (2+ years ago), I thought the water pump got replaced. In any case I am looking for a good price on the install of the pump. I talked to a shop today that has done SHO's (It was an ATX last time) and they said it was around $700 to do their water pump and timing belts. I believe parts and labor were included. Should I attempt this with a mechanically inclined friend?

 

[Cruez]

I have my car in the shop getting a clutch and etc...

I was looking under the car and there is a very slow leak in one of my freeze plugs....been leaking a while from the way it looks...