DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

every morning i wake up their is a puddle of liquid under the car on the passenger side right below the radiator. Im not sure if its antifreeze because when i left it in the garage it didnt seem to leak at all. So im not really sure. I dont think its the water pump but i could be wrong. If any one knows some common spots to look for to find the leak i would appreciate it.

Nismo

iTrader: (18)

ac condensation

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

yea it seems to be just water i never had that with my 95. Thats normal right ?

mat_man1

i don't know that it is ac condensation being that you are in conneticut and probably not using your ac this time of year, but I've been wrong before.

Nismo

iTrader: (18)

Do you turn on your front defrosters?

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

sometimes depending on how frosted the windshield is . Regardless their is always a puddle under my car if i leave it outside. It very well could be just ac condensation. But my antifreeze reservoir is about halfway full right now. So i dont know

Nismo

iTrader: (18)

halfway full seems normal. The radiator constantly exchanges fluid in and out of it so its not going to be exactly the same everytime you check it. Next time you see the puddle, wipe some on your fingers, if its water then you probably dont need to worry but if its slick or sticky then its something else

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

If your cooling system was leaking a pudding amount of antifreeze/coolant every day, your cooling system would be very low by now.

Is it????????????????????

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

yes right now the engine is completely cool and right above the minimum mark. But i checked the puddle with my fingers and didnt seem to be antifreeze so i just put a catch pan underneath my car to see what it really is. But im quite low on antifreeze.

Nismo

iTrader: (18)

now is a good time to check all your hose fittings just in case then. pull out your coolant resovior and see if its wet under it.

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

I just wanna hear some one say IT IS NOT THE WATER PUMP. I think if it was the water pump it would be overheating right ? Well i think i am going to do a radiator flush shortly. And check everything. The car has 170k on it and i dont think the hoses have ever been changed.

the_3d_man

iTrader: (1)

don't just check the reservoir. open up the radiator cap and see if the fluid is at the top. (when cold)

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

yep its certainly coolant i put a catch pan underneath my car last night basically right where theres no cover underneath the engine (right under the timing cover) . So its probably the water pump :X

Preet S 22

i have the same exact problem. I guess i'll have to be checking my water pump as well. Thanks

cardana24

iTrader: (81)

if it is coolant then you are right it probably is the water pump, why dont you just get under the car when it is running to see where it is leaking? If you do this please make sure your car is secure. You will be able to see if its coming out of the weap hole in the water pump or if its just running off your lower radiator hose. There are also coolant lines that run to the heater core that are on that side of the engine. Also there are coolant lines that run into the rear of your intake plenum (though thats close to the egr). I would recomend securing the car (maybe have a friend around close to the jack) and getting under it while its running to see where its leaking.

SPiG

iTrader: (7)

I have the exact same problem. I have to refill the radiator every few days. I am pretty sure it is the water pump o rings. It cools fine when there is water in there. It just leaks, which sucks because now I have to change it anyway. I would also check your thermostat gasket and radiator return hose. I just replaced my hose when I had to replace the radiator and it doesn't look like it is leaking from my thermostat since it is dry.

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

the leak only occurs when the car has been off for some hours(and only in the cold). Which leads me to beleive its the water pump but i will look into that as soon as i finish my brothers alarm im pulling my car into the garage to check it out.

Stephen Max

iTrader: (59)

The water pump has two o-rings that prevent coolant from leaking. Over time the o-rings can become hard and lose their sealing ability. At that point it is possible for coolant to leak past the innermost o-ring (the one closer to the center of the engine. In between the two o-rings there is a weep hole in the engine block that allows the coolant to escape out of the block rather than work its way past the second o-ring and from thence into the timing cover, which would contaminate the engine oil. The weep hole is right behind the alternator at the level of the joint between the block and the upper oil pan.

So, if the puddle is indeed coolant, you need to replace the water pump. Actually, you just need to replace the o-rings, but you might as well do the pump too, since the hard part is getting the pump out and they are not that expensive ($80 from the dealer).

DcMaN

iTrader: (13)

thanks for your help, i will be pulling it in shortly praying that it is just a radiator hose but i KNOW its the water pump. Yay great Christmas present for me :\