Coolant Leak near belt

[rakfint]

Hi All,

Just got this festy & since i've had a radiator flush oil change and a few other things I have noticed my coolant seems to be leaking on and around the main drive belt but only while the car is running.

From what I have read it may be my water pump?

Advice?

[91mcnasty]

I would say maybe the hard coolant line under the header?

[kartracer46]

Pull the top section of the Timing cover off, then look at the weep hole in the top of the water pump to see if it is wet, if you can't tell then start the car and see if water pushes out the hole. If it does you are going to need a new one.

[Larry Hampton]

Pull the top section of the Timing cover off, then look at the weep hole in the top of the water pump to see if it is wet, if you can't tell then start the car and see if water pushes out the hole. If it does you are going to need a new one.

+1 on the weep hole ccasion5:

[rakfint]

I dont really know what im doing or looking for but I will check this out..

thanks guys!

[89newb]

+2 on the weep hole. unfortunatly from what i read our water pumps dont seem to be good ones. i could be wrong...

[kartracer46]

+2 on the weep hole. unfortunatly from what i read our water pumps dont seem to be good ones. i could be wrong...

Well I wouldn't go that far, I have had them go for 200k or more. But I would actually recommend one with every other timing belt at 120k for dependability reasons.

[dznutts]

Dammit I have da same problem. Lookin at the weep hole and theres no water coming out. But my pulley wiggles and I guess the bearings are bad. And I think its leakin from the bottom of the pump. I dont know though?

Is there a write up on changing the water pump?
I have a 1988 festiva.

[villageidiot]

its pretty simple. its all just nuts and bolts

[Larry Hampton]

There's a weep hole at the top, looks like a drilled hole, but there is a formed channel at the bottom. Look at the pics.on eBay.

[JoDan]

Also check the hard line coming out of the water pump. There is an o-ring that is known to leak.

[dznutts]

Yea I took off the top timing cover and theres no water comin out of the weep hole. But theres water leaking from the bottom of the water pump, cant really see from where exactly without taking off the bottom cover.

Where is this o-ring that is suggested?

[link5186]

If it's coming from the bottom you could be leaking from the pump shaft seal or have a hairline crack somewhere in the pump casing (though not likely).
The o-ring is located on the end of the heater core return hard line where it pushes into the side of the spout where your lower radiator hose hooks up.

Sent from the bathroom via crapatalk

[dznutts]

yea the bearings on this water pump I think are shot! I didnt take anything else off cause the parts store was closed. Hopefully I can get the water pump tomarrow. Gotta raise some funds, how much does a water pump go for at the parts store?

[villageidiot]

One I got was less than 30 bucks.