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New coolant leak. Water pump?

Discussion in 'VT - VX Holden Commodore (1997 - 2002)' started by RK5TAR, Oct 18, 2011.

  1. RK5TAR

    RK5TAR New Member

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    I noticed green coolant staining under my pulley wheels today (see pics). I only noticed it today. I've had the car parked on an slope in the driveway the last day or so nose down the slope. Thinking this may have made it more obvious to find than being parked out on the street as normal.
    I've been working on the interior so haven't touched anything on the motor in the last day aside from checking the oil this morning.
    3 months ago when I got the car and had the radiator changed etc, the guy doing it did say he was a bit sus about the water pump, but its got me to 3 months later without incident, so Ive been lucky so far.
    But Im thinking it must be the water pump from where the drops have seemingly dropped from?

    Probably unrelated couple of things, but I noticed the staining after popping the bonnet because I could hear a clicking sort of sound from under the bonnet when I drove it around the block. It seems to be coming from the vicinity of the coil pack area.
    Also this morning I used the handbrake to pull the car up when rolling it down the sloped driveway a metre or two and heard a light clunk to the left of me when I did it. I couldnt have popped something making it leak when I did it could I? (Probably completely dumb question to ask, but only thing I know I did to the car before it started leaking and in hindsight way probably silly to roll the car down that little bit with the engine off, Its a manual).

    Any advice appreciated.

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  2. RK5TAR

    RK5TAR New Member

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    So Had a look around today and noticed a coolant stain coming from a largish hose that sits above and to the left of all the pulleys. This hose seems to head back towards the heater tap??
    Am I right in thinking the coolant could be trickling down to the centre front where I photographed the staining? Or do I have 2 leaks? I cant see it coming from anywhere else but these 2 spots and there isnt a puddle of it when Ive taken it around the corner for a drive or anything.
    The clamp on the hose I am talking about looks different too, not one with a screw to tighten it that I can see. But the coolant seapage stain is where this hose connects onto something else. I will get a better pic tomorrow.
     
  3. Killr6

    Killr6 tutut

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    your best bet would be to get a pressure test mate, but by the looks of it your water pump has a slight leak, which should be fixed straight away because the leak will build up.

    also if its stain its not fresh coolant yeah? or is it fresh coolant dripping?

    and also with the hose heating towards the heater tap, check that the clamp and everything is on nice and tight.
     
  4. RK5TAR

    RK5TAR New Member

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    Thanks. Its been towed to the mechanic today. I got racv out to have a look, before they arrived I let the car run up to temp and it wasnt leaking. Going by the marks from previous leaking he thought it was the pump. I turned the car off and it started leaking in a hurry from where the water pump is.
    Have spoken tot he mechanic as well before the car got there and let him know about the staining up on that other hose too and asked him if he could possibly do a pressure test anyway. You know how sometimes these things happen as a symptom of another problem? Hopefully this is it for repairs for a while? Would be real nice to put money into other things like a sports exhaust for it lol.
     
  5. RK5TAR

    RK5TAR New Member

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    So the water pump has been replaced and the thermostat (2nd time in 4 mths). But the mechanic is sus that the headgasket is stuffed as it seems to be building up a lot of pressure in the hoses (probably why I'm noticing coolant stains at the ends of the hoses?). He said if it is the gaskets then its more worthwhile swapping the whole motor out for another one.
     
  6. Killr6

    Killr6 tutut

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    you really dont have many signs of a blown headgasket... you have a few coolant leaks?

    have you got oil in you coolant? on your oil cap is there like a white milky sludge on it? is there white smoke coming out of your exhaust?
     
  7. RK5TAR

    RK5TAR New Member

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    No oil or sludge, but then out of 3 cars Ive had with gaskets gone before, none of them did. They either lost water or overheated or both, plus did things like split the radiator etc.

    The excess pressure in the hoses, and that the coolant seems to be coming out of 2 other places besides the water pump due tot he pressure in the hoses would be a sign.

    I was sus after the radiator blew out and now all these leaks that keep coming up.
     

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