Leaking Coolant

mr2fyre · #1 (**permalink**) 01-13-2004, 05:37 PM

My jeep just started leaking coolant this morning. It is a slow leak under pressure only. It appears to be coming somewhere near the front of the engine. I couldn't see very well exactly where it is coming from as i couldn't climb under the jeep. Are there any hoses that i should be looking for in particular or is it the waterpump as i fear it is?

If it is the water pump are they difficult to replace?

Sound_Man · #2 (**permalink**) 01-13-2004, 06:45 PM

Water pump is not a difficult job. Find the leak and tell us where it is and we can steer you down the right path to fixing it!

XJNick · #3 (**permalink**) 01-13-2004, 08:23 PM

It could be comming from almost any one of the cooling system hoses, as they ALL connect to something located in the front of the vehicle. As Sound Man said, need more info

-Nick

mr2fyre · #4 (**permalink**) 01-13-2004, 08:54 PM

Well i didn't have a chance to crawl underneath because i was just dropping my gf off at the airport and i was in the work clothes. I stopped at home, picked up my MR2 took a quick peek and headed back to work. I will see what i can see tonight or tomorrow morning.

Benskate1 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-13-2004, 09:07 PM

check the water pump gasket too.
pumps are simple, rip off te fan shroud and undo the bolts on the fan then theres just 4 bolts scrape the gasket off throw a new one on and slam on the new pump.

mr2fyre · #6 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 02:03 AM

Ok, I took a look at it. I only see one hose coming out of the waterpump. Is this correct? The fluid is not coming from any of the hoses on top of the engine and it doesn't look like it is coming out of the one big one coming out of the water pump. Am I missing any. When i crawl under the car it is a bit hard to tell where the fluid is coming from. it looks like it is just running down the front of the engine and then dripping off of some points. Again it is only leaking when the car is running and stops leaking after i turn it off.

So did i miss any hoses? Could it just be the gasket? If it is just the gasket should i replace the wp anyway?

Benskate1 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 01:41 PM

well if it is the gasket yes replace it! how much fluid is comeing out?

judge09 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 02:02 PM

Check the hoses for cracks, those are easy and cheap to replace. On my Cutlass the intake manifold gasket blew and I was leaking antifreeze down the front of the engine that way. I dont know if it all works the same in the jeep engines. Just thought I would throw the idea out there

mr2fyre · #9 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 02:19 PM

Quote:

well if it is the gasket yes replace it!

I will replace whatever needs to be replaced. I am just trying to track it down to see if there are any other possibilities before i go taking the water pump off. See if i missed any hoses or anything.

Quote:

how much fluid is comeing out?

Not much. I ran the car three times looking for the leak, and i had maybe a quart and a half of fluid lost. I am not driving it though so I am not that worried.

Quote:

Check the hoses for cracks, those are easy and cheap to replace.

I check all the hoses on the top of the engine and the look fine. Also, I couldn't pinpoint the exact location where the coolant was coming out. The leak is not visiable from the top of the engine. The primary hose out of the water pump appears to be in good shape and it also appears that the fluid is not coming out at the top of it either (though it is completly covered in oil and dirt). So unless there are any other hoses or things that can leak that i don't know about, I am guessing it is the water pump/gasket.

So again, could it be just the WP gasket? If it is just the gasket should i replace the WP at the same time? (I don't have any records for the previous maintainance).[/quote]

Sound_Man · #10 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 03:21 PM

Quote:

So again, could it be just the WP gasket? If it is just the gasket should i replace the WP at the same time?

I would replace it, the pump is not that expensive and if you are going to take off the old one to do the gasket you might as well replace the pump. Since you are in there and are going to drain all the fluid I would also replace the thermostat and the gasket on the housing it is in. It never hurts to do some preventive maintenance.

Tug-n-pull · #11 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 03:33 PM

Could have a pin hole in the radaitor and only leaks or rather sprays under pressure. Spraying toward the engin would make it look like the leak is from the engin but not. Does this make any sence at all. tug

mr2fyre · #12 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Could have a pin hole in the radaitor and only leaks or rather sprays under pressure.

I will look into it, but I don't think that is the case. I didn't see any signs of fluid on any of the pully's or the belt, or the fans. Nor did i see any fluid coming out of anything (ofcourse i was using portable lights, soo).

It seemed to be running down the engine behind the pully's and belts.

XJNick · #13 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 05:06 PM

Sounds like a leaking Thermostat housing or water pump gasket to me... I'd do the thermostat first since it is super easy

-Nick

mr2fyre · #14 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 08:41 PM

Where is the thermostat housing???

XJNick · #15 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 10:11 PM

Right at the front of the engine, near the top. It is a bell-shaped housing with a big and a small hose both attahed to it. The large hose goes to the radiator, the small one goes to the heater core area. It is possible that the coolant is seeping out from the bottom of this thermostat housing.

-Nick

mr2fyre · #16 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 10:33 PM

I couldn't see any coolant from the top side of the engine. I will take a look again tonight just to make sure.

mr2fyre · #17 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 07:23 PM

Ok i have the waterpump off the car and there is this pipe extension thing that looks like it comes from the heater core or something. Anyway, I am just wondering if it is supposed to be there and how to get it off.

Whoever said that it was just four bolts and off for the water pump is full of it or houdini.

I have some pictures of the waterpump with the pipe extension thing. If you think you can help please email me and I will send them over.

Thanks.

mr2fyre@yahoo.com

mr2fyre · #18 (**permalink**) 01-18-2004, 09:01 PM

Well, I now have everything back together and the jeep is running and not leaking any fluid. So I guess it was indeed the water pump.

It was significantly more difficult than four bolts and off. I would say for an in experienced mechanic 4-5 hours would be a good time to complete the project.

Thank you everyone for your help.

bchcky · #19 (**permalink**) 01-24-2004, 03:46 AM

if a jeep aint leaking, its empty

XJNick · #20 (**permalink**) 01-24-2004, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bchcky

if a jeep aint leaking, its empty

LOL

-Nick