Yes, I searched, but could find no definitive answer, so I'm asking...

On my 98, with 198k, I know my PS system is leaking badly, and already have a new rack and pump plus hoses to install - but over the last couple of weeks, I've been leaving puddles under the car, roughly below the PS pump... It LOOKED oily, didn't have a distinctive color or odor... so thought it was the PS fluid...

Well, on Tuesday on my way to work, it was 5am, and cold, so had the heat blowing, and suddenly, no more heat... Of course I know I'm looking at cooling - so after letting the car sit to cool, I come back out, and check, and cannot see coolant in the puke bottle or the rad... run to store and buy coolant in a rush, just to get some in there. Took 1/3 gal to top rad, and put a lil in the bottle...

Now, question I have, is from above I c an see no evidence of a leak what so ever. My first thought then was the water pump... GREAT... like I can deal with that right now - underemployed working part time and relying on unemployment, and STILL unable to pay bills - this is the LAST thing I need.

After looking on here for the pump replacement (of course that I found, and NOT looking forward to it) and noticing HOW it's mounted, etc... if the seals fail, and the pump is leaking, wouldn't the coolant leak into the oil, since it's "sealed" behind the timing cover?

I ask, as I checked and the oil itself is fine... there is no coolant there... and I'm REALLY needing this to be an inexpensive, easy fix... I cannot afford either the part, NOR the down time on the car right now - and this is my only car...

 

if the coolant is coming out of the weep hole (should exit from near ac compressor) and it's not going into your oil (as you say it isn't), it may just be the inner (coolant) water pump seal. if that's all it is, you "could" just do the seals on the wp and be done. i had a wp seal that leaked when it got cold out sep if the car was allowed to fully cool off (ie, it wasn'r run for several days in a row). the issue is that it's a lot of work to get in there to do the wp. if money is not an issue, do a new (oe or aisen) wp with new seals (oe are best) and to replace timing chain tensioner while you're in there; if money is tight, you could just do the wp seals (though you may end up / have to do it again shortly or immediately thereafter).

 

Money's tight enough I can't even afford the damn seals... I'm borrowing money on a weekly basis just to have gas money to get to work...

Honestly, I'm about ready to shoot the damn car!

 

i have a 96 with 246k, it's doing the same thing. The leak didn't start until it got cold out. It leaks after I shut it off after my drive to work/home. Doesn't leak until I shut it off then I get a puddle under it. Work told me it was environmental hazard, so I can't drive it until it's fixed. Thanks for the post. I check this area to see if that is where it is leaking. Would you recommend having mechanic doing pressure check on it?

 

You mention OE or Aisin for a pump replacement. IF I can borrow the money for this, I found Aisin pump on RockAuto for about $50, same as what AutoZone gets locally for their "New" pump.

Now, the Aisin only has a 1 yr warranty, and if anything happened to it, I'd have trouble with the replacement swap issue, due to down time. The AZ part is a LT warranty..

So, the question is, is the AZ worth the "risk"? Even with a LT warranty, and taking into consideration the "fun" labor....?

As I mentioned, I have everything I need to replace my PS pump and Rack, and will also be doing my valve cover gaskets soon...

So, here's a question - since I'm already going to be pulling some of this apart anyway, and IF I can get the money for the pump, would it be easiest (albeit more time consuming) to just schedule to do all the work at one time? Would pulling out the PS pump, etc... at this time open more space to work on the pump?

 

Before you go crazy with the WP, crawl underneath and check the heater hoses for signs of leakage. Look for water stains on the underside, especially at the point where they go into the connector in the firewall (or maybe it's just a holder for the hoses, I forget).

 

sorry to hear about the trouble. Have you located for sure where it is coming from? It could be a coolant hose at the rear of the intake manifold that is a sharp c bend that wears over time from the heating/cooling cycle. Mine recently burst and it leaked pretty much straight down from the rear of the manifold.

 

i'd go with the aisen or oem; it would be easier to do pump with ps reservoir & ps lines off.

 

Check all your hoses, and the radiator upper tank right at the base of the filler neck.

 

I'll be getting underneath tomorrow to try and look more - but I've found that with my luck, it's almost ALWAYS the worst case situation...

If I had the money, and with the miles on the car, I'd be tempted to just replace EVERY rubber hose under the hood while I'm in there...

 

check your heater core hose i had a pin hoe in mine where the exhaust heat finally got to the better of it and was leaking a tiny bit just leaked under pressure after i crack down on her...hope u find it tho it can be a pain in the butt