Just happened yesterday and this morning......

Drove into work (7 miles) did my business for about 2 hours, went to leave and noticed a huge puddle under the pass side of the car. Felt it/sniffed it, seemed like tranny fluid (but this is a greasy parking lot).

Checked my tranny, power steering, brake fluid and oil, all was perfect. Figured it was some other poor suckers tranny and drove home. Later last nite, went back to work, worked all nite, came out....another puddle, same stuff.

On the way home, at a redlight I see steam coming from under the pass side hood and wheelwell, was running fine at ~200 degrees, went on to the house.
Opened the hood, nothing, no steam from anywhere.

But there was another puddle pouring under the car......

I'm thinking "Simple fluid leak just gotta find it..." so I slapped my hand into the puddle of coolant and found that it was COLD.

How can cold coolant leak from an engine thats running at normal operating temp?


Could it be:
1. A bad thermostat, preventing the coolant from flowing?
2. Water pump, the top weep hole was dry, but isn't there one on the bottom too? (Didn't check that yet)
3. Some sort of back pressure....causing a hose to leak somewhere?

The leak is such that the puddle will generally form at the front passenger tire.

Any ideas??
RB

 

preasure test it and you ought to find your leak

 

Air conditioner condensate? It often drips right on the Y-pipe in front of the cat. Was your A/C on?

 

my a/c is messed up and it will get TONS of condensation on it even when i don't use it.....never had it leave a big puddle tho.

 

Wasn't the A/C, and the puddle was definitely coolant (green).

I'll find the leak, but can't imagine how cold coolant was leaking out of a 220 degree engine?!?!?!?

Am I right about the 2 weep holes on the water pump, one on top and one on the bottom?

If the thermostat is stuck closed, cold coolant would be in te radiator but the engine wasn't running hot.

If the thermostat is stuck closed, the heated coolant in the enging block could heat/expand and leak but the leak would be hot....

 

Check your heater.. Im not sure if the coolant flows through the heater unit if its not switch on. If it doesnt, then the coolant would be cold.

 

It's got to be a heater hose or line cracked if the puddle is there. The steam is from it dripping on your y-pipe, so the leak is close to the firewall. Coolant does not expand much when heated unless it vaporizes, otherwise the system would explode. Water is actually is less dense when frozen, hence "freeze plugs."

 

Since the puddle forms at the front of the passenger side tire it is possible you may have a leak in your coolant reservoir jug.

Lonnie

 

I was thinking the same but, That wouldnt explain the steam.. at the stoplight...Im thinking heater hose/assembly problem. As for the fluid being cool......doesnt add up....if it were drivers side I'd say washer fluid...

 

Maybe your coolant reservoir is leaking somehow ?!?

 

It's the water pump....

The cold water I was feeling was because the water was straight from the radiator, not the block....

My trip to or from work is 7 miles, just long enough to get up to ~220 degrees and the thermostat opens up, allowing the cooler 'radiator water' to flow. The steam at the redlight was because the leak in the front was being blown back over the Y pipe (my Y pipe is stained white on the front and center).

There are 2 weep holes in the pump, one each top and bottom, mine is pouring out of the bottom hole.

I'll be replacing the pump today (along with a cooler thermo and new serpentine belt for good measure). It seem easy enough, take out shroud, fan, pull belt, pump pully and 4 bolts to the pump.

Any ideas on the cheapest/best pump? I've got Advanced Auto, NAPA, and Auto Zone all 5 minutes from me.....

Thanks guys

RB

 

I replaced mine with a NAPA one. They might be a bit more expensive, but the guys behind the counter are sharp and I have never had any problems with their parts.

I can't say the same for the others.

 

I just replaced mine also. I bought the lifetime pump from Autozone, cost 28.00 bucks, no problems yet. Look your belt over good while you have it apart, dont forget the new gaskets and a little RTV.

 

just a heads up, when you buy a reman'd water pump do yourself a favor and take the back plate off and inspect the impeller, check it for signs of erosion. ther have been a number of people who have bought reman'd units and found the impeller was about half gone.

 

Picked up a new pump at autozone (23 bucks), new thermo (just because), new belt.

Had to buy a 1/2" drive breaker bar (needed one anyway).

Parts plus RTV and gaskets ~50 bucks, 3 hours of my labor (free).

Dealer/Mechanic cost woulda prolly been 300 Plus.......

Thanks guys. Saved me a bundle!

Why 3 hours? I had my 7 year old son with me, he made off with my thermostat housing bolts. Took dang near an hour to find them.

He'll learn one day..........

RB

 

Hate it when that happens. glad you got it fixed...I love to deny overpriced labor charges...