hello friends....

i have 98 max auto with high milage. in the last couple of weeks (since it got cold in east coast) i started to see few drops of coolant leak from passaner side under the engine when parked overnight (does not happend during daytime/after the engine warms). Car functions normal. temperature is normal. I took the car to the mechanic the leak was traced to waterpump. Question.. is it critical to get this fixed? i have to refill the coolant/antifreeze ever couple of week when i see the level drops in the reservoir. your help is greatly appreciated. got couple repair estimate with partr between 400 - 600 (this includes tensioner).. i am planning to use help from freedy from the org

EDITED: My mistake.. qu0ted dirver side. should be passanger side leak

 

Water pump is on passenger side, and costs buku bucks at a shop. He's mistaken, or a shyster. there are many hoses, sensors, some gaskets, and a radiator that it could be.

Get a second opinion. Find someone local from the org, or even NYCM, to help if you can.

 

Water pump is on the opposite side.. Please take the car elsewhere.

 

On the driver's side is the upper radiator hose, Engine Coolant Temp Sensor and a lot of small coolant lines. You can probably troubleshoot this yourself. How much coolant you are losing? Estimated size....

 

about 10 drops a night

 

I've got a '98 Manual SE. I replaced my water pump about 40K miles ago and have had this same leak since then. It hasn't been a problem other than needing to top off the overflow tank once in a while. It seems that the leaking is more pronounced when the weather is cold than during the summer. Let it go for a while, see how often you need to top off your overflow tank, and decide if you can live with it (that's what I've done for the past several years on mine). Also check to see that its not causing you other problems in the engine bay. Rich

 

.. you paid to have your waterpump replaced and you took the car from shop knowing there is a leak?

OP, its up to you.

If you are mechanically inclined and have a few friends to give you a helping hand, Get a DEK; and if you wanna stay OEM keep the DE intake and fuel equip. DEK costs around 300$ for fairly low milage motor. Sell the DEK intake manifold assembly (00vi swap) for 200$ ... You just spent 100$ for a low milage motor with working eveything and have a motor with another 100k life left in here easy.

 

water pump is on teh passenger side with all the other timing chain tensioner etc...

 

thanks all for the feedback

 

If you don't mind, can you open your hood and examine the radiator. Under the filler neck from the inside, do you see a crack underneath it??

 

I know that fool I posted before the edit where he corrected himself and said the coolant was coming from the passenger side.

OP, you can easily jack up the car and see exactly where the coolant is coming from.

 

 

i just bought my first 4th gen, a 97 106,000 original great shape.....got a few little leaks though concerning me think one is power steering fluid on pass side, and some times water from same area might have to do with cold im in nyc.....any thoughts welcome

 

thanks guys/gals
weather hear in nj is "lots of snow" going to chekc it out in couple of days.
chrisman and trini -- will keep you posted.