Hey Everyone,

It is nice to be back from my overseas job and driving my '96 while on vacation. I have a question however. Two weeks ago, I noticed a slow, but steady leak behind my front right tire, about 12 inches in. There was no coolant or other substance in (or so my taste buds tell me), only water. I know this is the very spot that condensation from the air conditioner will drip. It continued to do so in spite of not being driven all day. I took it to the local Chevy dealer, and they found a pinhole leak in the water pump and replaced it. Since then, I have had no troubles, until today - I drove it around this morning with the A/C off and the windows down for about a half hour. When I got home, I noticed the leak again (only water) under the car, the same slow drip, and a spot maybe 6 inches in diamter. I am a novice when it comes to basic auto maintenance, and I was told that that spot is common because of the way condensation, rain, etc can collect and drip down. The mechanic also told me to keep an eye on the coolant thermostat. The entire time driving around today, the coolant temp seemed fine, between 200 and 205 consistently. I would be grateful for any advice before I take this thing back to the shop. I would imagine that if it goes away today that is nothing to worry about, if it persists in the morning, then it probably is a problem, perhaps the same, or a faulty water pump. Unfortunately, it looks like it is going to rain this afternoon, so I might not know. Any opinions would be appreicated.

Thanks,

Bob

 

Sounds like the window washer bottle may be leaking.
Or perhaps the washer pump failed. Was this the pump that the dealer replaced?
Or perhaps the hose came off.
A crack in the bottle or leaky hose or pump may dribble intermittently for days.
It's a good idea to keep -32* solution in that tank at all times. I used to add plain water in the summer but infrequent use led to freeze-ups in the winter. Now it's -32* solution only.
Hope this help.
Former Stroud resident.

 

Thanks - good advice. I just got similar advice from a buddy. He suggested placing a pan under the leak overnight, then getting an anti-freeze test kit to see if it is just water. I am doing this right now. If it is, he concurs it is most likely just condensation, or as you suggest possibly the window washer or the hose. If there is no coolant in the water, then my concerns should really be alleviated and the problem easy to fix. I appreciate the advice!

Bob (Norman born and raised)