Coolant leak!!

[cleopp3]

Ok got a 93 se ka24de just replaced the radiaitor and lower hose, everything was working fine till I saw it leaking not from any of the hoses or radiator itself but from the block somewhere. my guess is since the radiator was so old and the coolant hadnt been flusehed for years , when I ran the flush fluid it deteriorated a seal or somthing. im guessing its the waterpump or seal?? Help anybody??!

[onosqv]

leaks can be from anywhere man, coolant runs all over the place. Your only hope is to clean everything up, then try to see where it leaks, you need to narrow down if it comes from front area of engine, passenger side, etc.

if it happens only when the car is on, you could try something like - clean up everything (i.e. oil pan, front timing cover, etc). Then start the car & put some white construction/butcher paper / whiteboard underneath and see if it starts leaking @ idle.

It's just a tracing game from here.

[Vegascorbin]

Sounds like you may have a leaky freeze plug. They are the Silver Doller sized plugs in the sides adn rear of the block. They are from when it is cast and also they are suposed to let go if the block freezes insted of cracking the block.

They can be replaced. Depends on which one as to the difaculty involved.

Like they say just follow the water trail to find the sorce.

[the technican]

i know there is a pain in the a** little hose that can be seen through the passanger side wheel well when you take the oil filter off, i think it is the thermostat bypass hose thats a good canditate and i know there are a couple of hoses under intake manifold....good luck man it could be a real b****

[modulation]

Are you sure it's not coming out of the Water Pump weep hole?If it's coming out in almost the middle of the block and drips down on the crank pully then it's probably our water pump weep hole telling you the seals/bearings on your Waterpump are gone and to replace it.

[nismoracingsx]

crank the car up and get friendly with a flashlight

[cleopp3]

ya def from the front of the block seems to drip into the pulleys and directly under the oil pan.

[nismoracingsx]

thats your water pump, use the search feature and lookup up a waterpump write up if you don't know the procedure. Waterpumps are cheap, replace your thermostat at the same time and save yourself some pain. Inspect the hoses for giggles, while you're at it . GL

[modulation]

ya def from the front of the block seems to drip into the pulleys and directly under the oil pan.

Mine went out in like April or May of this year and that's exactly where it was dripping on. The water pump is made to do this so that you have some time to change it before it fails catastrophically.

The good news is that it's freaking easy to change.Also if you replaced your radiator and have to replace your WP if I were you I'd just buy as many radiator hoses that you haven't replaced and do them all at the same time. After replace 1 thing in the cooling system the next oldest thing just breaks so while your in there (with alot of coolant already drained) you might as well just replace as much as possible so you don't have to do this again a month down the road.

For S13Take out your fan shroud, fan , fan clutch.Line up the hole in your power steering pump up with the bolt that bolts the PS pump to the engine mount. Unbolt that and move the PS pump over enough to take off the belt.

Unbolt the bolts around the water pump and knock if off with a piece of wood or rubber malled (or a metal hammer if your like me and are sure you got all the bolts off and don't care about the old WP.)

Put a tiny bit of RTV blue gasket maker on both sides of the gasket that come with your WP (or don't put any if you wish) and reverse all the steps to put your water pump back on..

Bad news... Well your out like $40 and maybe a hours worth of time and can't drive for a few hours after that if you put RTV on your junk (by junk I mean WP gasket.)
Modified by modulation at 10:48 AM 8/30/2008

[cleopp3]

Ya i replaced the radiator then all the troubles started hehe everything seems to work fine I put the water pump in while i was in there I put a new fail safe thermostat sealed all thhat crap up and it seems to be holding fine. I live in Vegas so it slike 100+ everyday. I knew it was just a matter of time till it went out. Thanks for all your help!