vaelon2007

After getting back from a drive I noticed coolant pouring out. it was coming from what seems like underneath/behind where you pour in the power steering fluid. Car has 68k miles and I assume the water pump went out and needs to be replaced. I thought the water pump was on the passenger side and not where it was leaking so I just am trying to make sure that it is definately the water pump before I replace it. I was just hoping to get some feedback. Thanks in advance.

Bill Suttie

The water pump/pulley is below the throttle body inlet hose on engine centerline. Between the TBI and the power steering reservoir on the driver side of the engine is a 3/8 inch ID bleed hose that comes from the LH head. That maybe what is leaking. Otherwise, the waterpump seal has failed and the pump pulley is slinging the coolant behind the power steering reservoir. Good Luck.

vaelon2007

Thanks for the reply. It could be slinging it as you say, it is just hard to see. I guess I'll remove the TB to see if I can get a better look to see if that bleed hose came off because I did not see any leaking from water pump side at all, but you can see it pouring out from the centerline area under the power steering reservoir so it may be the hose. Ugh!

vaelon2007

Just wanted to say it turned out the front freeze plug developed a pinhole from rusting from the inside of it. After I got it back, the back freeze plug developed the same problem. Thanks for the help.

Kenny94945

Can you say more....rust forming on a 05 freeze plug inside the water jacket.

Was this with Dextron (Yes edit = Dexcool)? If flushed, when and was distilled water used? Is there salt or mud on the roads in your area? These are some questions as examples.

Interesting failure, I (for one anyway) would like to know more.

360jeepboy

I agree! Rust from the inside of the freeze plug on this new of a car seems unlikely, unless something played another roll in the development.

vaelon2007

I bought the car a little over 2 years ago and did not have the system flushed. The system, as far as I could tell had Dextron in it. This is what probably caused the issue, at least that is what I hope anyways as I don't want to think about it being something more until it happens.

360jeepboy

Huh, that worries me a little. I just picked up an 05 and the guy told me he hasn't flushed the fluid yet, which the service manual said every 150k miles or 5 years. I was going to when the summer rolled around, it just to cold work on a car right now.

Tommy D

The only thing I can think of is if the car had a engine heater in it. The heating element may have corroded. Was there debris in the water jacket ?

davekp78

I assume you meant Dexcool, not Dextron.
Sounds fishy to me.
To the OP:
What color was the coolant?

vaelon2007

It was orange, dexcool