need help pinpointing coolant leak!

[sirenx]

whats up .. i just bought a 92 240sx this past week.. but ive been researching alot about the cars on this and a few other forums.. so far this is the best site ive found.. congrats

anyway .. enough jerking everyones d!ck ..

i need help pinpointing a coolant leak.. it just started leaking yesterday .. and i havent had a chance to get the car up and crawl completely underneath ..

but i got a good enough look to see that its dropping behind the pulleys .. on the engine side.. not the radiator side..

what components are on that side of the engine that could be leaking.. sice obviously it isnt leaking from the radiator?

lines? or some area of the motor down there leaking?

thanks for any help

[cory2081]

There is a weep hole on the water pump that is right behind the waterpump pulley. You can put your finger on it and see if it is wet. (that totally doesn't sound right, but, anyway) Mine did this a few months back, there would be a small puddle under my car sometimes after the car sat for a little bit after driving it. Turned out that the seal in the water pump was going bad. The water pump is very easy to replace, and only costs about $25 or so!! Hope this helps!

[sirenx]

sweet thanks.. but would coolant be leaking from the wate pump?

[base9se]

It can if it's cracked. Just had mine changed.

[sirenx]

ah ok.. wasnt aware that coolant went through water pump thanks

[cory2081]

Yeah, coolant is pumped by the water pump. It can leak from the shaft seal. Most of the time this is where they will leak b/c the bearing is failing. I'm pretty sure you will find this is the culprit, especially if it is the original one.

[180fan]

word. had coolant spilling out of the weep hole before. pretty easy to install a new pump

[sirenx]

awesome thanks guys!

[mikesim]

hmm....i'll have to check my waterpump before assuming its the headgasket....