Coolant Leak..Cant find the source.

[navymx3]

damn.,...i just went out with a co worker to check it out, refilled it with water, adn cranked it up...looked under the car, adn it looked like it was pissing water... he said that the w/p has a hole in it where it activates when the pump goes bad to allow coolant to get out so the engine dont blow up from the pressure....is that true on these cars?

[mitmaks]

when w/p goes bad it does leak out coolant. where is it leaking from?

[navymx3]

i cant tell, i dont have a mirror to check, or anyway to tell where exactly its leaking from, ill have to have the mechanic check it out.

[Daninski]

Make sure it's not at the top of the coolant neck. Mine leaked there and I thought it was the pump.

[navymx3]

I checked all around the the filler cap, and its not leaking from there, its leaking around my belts, because i looked there with a flash light and it was all wet around there. could be why my belts have been squeaking today and yesterday?

[TMP39]

like i said the pressure that wasnt there before with the pcv line you had used ot fix the iac line let out the pressure it usually builds up and once that pressure was back the pump couldnt take it. but still dont drive for very long or your going to end up have to replace the headgasket aswell.

[Ryan]

You're on crack. Have you ever flushed coolant? It has less pressure than the tap in your kitchen.

Plus, it goes through a 'pressure' cycle every time you turn off the car, or warm it from cold (thermostat closed->open).... your arguement doesn't make sense.

If he drained enough coolant to let the pump run dry, it might damage the seal, but thats about it.

[TMP39]

go start your car let it run til it at usual running temp shut it off and take your rad cap off. it does build pressure because of the coolant getting hot. and last time i checked the tap on my kitchen sink didnt put out 8 - 12 psi of pressure like most rad caps. and if tehre was no pressure in a cooling system there would be no reason for an expansion tank.

and its actually a heat cycle not a pressure cycle. im not trying to be a d--- abotu this but....

[navymx3]

well then ryan, what do you suggest dude? cuz i dont wanna have to buy a new water pump if i dont have to?

[mitmaks]

sorry to say it but sounds like you will have to replace that pump. Might as well do your timing belt/tensioners while you're in there. Just have a reputable mechanic do it before you f--- it up.

[navymx3]

well im taking it to pepboys anyway, people say its a good place, others say, not too much. But im going there to get a wheel and tire balance and alignment. so im gunna see if they can fix my leaks.

[navymx3]

Well, took the car to the shop today...heres what they said...
W/P is leaking ,that will need to be replaced. And in order to do that, will cost around 100$ for a new serpentine belt, and all the labor.
Along with that, my wheel bearings are shot, so will be about 500$ to get that done, and they cant find out why i have a surging idle....soo,,,,not sure what to do guys. I DO NOT have the funds to do that...but If i could find someone who is MX-3 saavy in my area, to help me with this, or to do my water pump fix, I would be soo grateful.

[TMP39]

how in the hell is it 500 for your bearings. there 60$ each or atleast mine were. and than take your spindles off your self and take them to a machine shop and they should press them in for like 20$. and try cleanigng your iac. just my idea for that and to save you a bit of cash.

[navymx3]

IDK, i guess its 500$ for the parts and the labor. they said it would take like 5 hours to do that. And around 1000$ to do the water pump, change that out, and the serpentine belt and to redo the timing back to where it was...is that a normal price? or is that insane? because if I could get some help to do it myself...I could save 800$....

[mitmaks]

$1000 to do a water pump You can buy KLZE shipped to your house for that much