Macksima2

I have a 95 maxima gxe auto. my car was leaking coolant for months i never knew wat it was but i assumed water pump gasket or water pump. but wasnt sure so i didnt bother to fix i jus kept refilling b4 i drove sumwhere. yesterday i left radiator cap off on accident nd my car shut off on me a couple times b4 i got home. I kno when u add cold water to a hot engine it cracks the head so i waited til today to add water when it was cool. started up car nd drove around neighborhood nd it seemed to be okay. but as i let it sit nd idle in driveway i heard a pouring noise. could this jus be water pump? or cracked head? it leaks from in between the block nd pulleys. please help!!

Climaxx

iTrader: (4)

Check your thermostat. From the way you're describing, the water pump will not leak THAT much.

The lower radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing just right above the alternator.

tosheto

iTrader: (5)

Yep, check thermostat and upper radiator hose first.

Max_Gator

When the water pump seal gets really rad, it will literally run out of there. If you have been having this problem ongoing, I'm pretty sure it is the water pump.

Macksima2

Thanks. had to look in the haynes manual nd its saying water pump also. I didnt believe thermostat since it never overheated or overcooled. was jus hoping itss not a cracked head. But book says water pump is faulty will leakbetween block nd timing cover like i said. bought one off amazon for 24$ nd kno sumbody who will put it on for 65 bcuz im not sittin in dis ga heat for 3hrs messing wit it lol but thanks

Macksima2

Also checked hoses last wk professionally they were gud nd so was thermostat

Climaxx

iTrader: (4)

Thermostat good or bad, if the gasket for it is bad, it will leak. And you will regret using that water pump down the road when it cracks and mixes your oil with coolant. Return it and go to your local dealership, spend $15 on new water pump orings and re use your current pump.

4th gen maxi

iTrader: (1)

You must check exactly where that leak is coming from.
I can almost asure You the head freeze plug popped out. It looks like the water pump Is leaking but it's coming from above.
Behind the timing chains add some ingenuity.
Remove plentum and lower mani with injectors still statched. There's some space
Check your pump first though lol

Macksima2

I have new orings but y go thru all dat work to takeout pump nd jus use same one? might as well do preventative maintenance nd use new pump too. but how exactly wuld i check if my pump is the leak?

Boothers96

iTrader: (11)

This...thats how mine went. I actually had no coolant leak at all and one morning after work it started pouring out from the same described location. Twas water pump....id still check easier/cheaper things first tho, t-stat housing, lower rad hose are both good thoughts too.

Climaxx

iTrader: (4)

Because 9 times out of 10, the seals are the only problems with our water pumps. And the only reason your "pump" would leak is from a cheap aftermarket one and it literally cracks. It's happened.

Macksima2

Ok so i have new orings for it nd new pump comes tmrw. does my timing chain need to be replaced since im replacing water pump? Or is it just recommended?

Climaxx

iTrader: (4)

No....

Trini Boom

iTrader: (5)

Not at all. Just download the FSM on how to do it or else you will get a rattle from the timing chain if not done correctly.

Boothers96

iTrader: (11)

Also I was experiencing some chain rattle from a weak tensioner before the water pump went out and had the shop do the tensioner and the guide that goes with the tensioner while they were in there. Its way less time consuming and cheaper to do it while they have the timing cover off anyway. Just a thought.

Macksima2

yea i thot not. but payin a dude 60 to change water pump nd he tryna claim my timing belt need to be replaced nd i sed no i have a timing chain nd it jus need to be rotated to free w/pump. blah he claimed i needed it i asked how much wuld he charge he sed 150 lmao. i sed **** ima jus do w/pump if timing messed up after i might pay u

Climaxx

iTrader: (4)

Yeah you need to loosen slack in the chain to get the pump out. If you ask me, 20 times easier to just take the timing cover off.

But then again, when I did it, the engine was out of the car so...