3D-Aircrew

I can't see in there to tell if it's the bottom hose or the water pump. Just started suddenly when I got a low coolant light. Topped it of and it came back on and that's when I found the leak on the driveway.

Can it be anything else other than the 2 things I guessed?

383vett

Water pump gasket, water pump seal, lower radiator hose or heater hose are the usual suspects.

Purple92

Of course it could !!!

Liquids tend to run downward along objects and then drip from the lowest point.

I suggest putting some cardboard down on the ground, and trying to determine exactly where the drip is coming from, and then tracing it back. If you have a worm drive hose clamp on that hose that you suspect - try giving it a twist to see if snugging it up will resolve the leak - hey - it's free (and I can tell you - it's worked for me on more than one occasion in the past - I'll also tell you that if it does work - put replacing that hose on the list of things to do SOON.)

IMHO - if the leak is not readily apparent - you have two options:

1) Get some of the liquid dye means to locate leaks in cooling systems, add it to the coolant - run the car for a while, then come back at night with a blacklight and look for the leak - it will probably be pretty obvious. You can get the dye on-line or at better auto parts stores. Make sure to get the dye that is compatible with anti-freeze, they make a similar dye for oil leaks - and you don't want that one.

2) Borrow or buy a cooling system pressure tester. Top off the system, and then pressurize the cooling system to about 10 - 15 psi. You should be able to locate the leak fairly quickly when fluid is seeping out under pressure. (The reason I say to top off the system is that if you've lost a quart or two of fluid - it's gonna take quite a while to pump up the system to 10 -15 psi of pressure.)


GOOD LUCK

VikingTrad3r

90% its gasket on wp.

hcbph

I also have an 86 and had this issue. In my case it turned out to be the U shaped hose that goes between the front of the TPI and into the block behind the water pump. The hose cracked on the upper fitting and it was leaking there, and a bear to see where it was leaking.

You can use something like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/catalo...ressure+tester
Pressurize the cooling system and look and listen for leaks. You can also borrow them from some places like Autozone.
I also found that if you use a black light and have some of the yellow-green coolants like Prestone it fluoresces under that light.

That's how I found my leak and that hose is available through Autozone or on the web.

One more thing it could be in addition to the things listed so far is a blown head gasket but that's something else to deal with.

billschroeder5842

Absolutely correct. It is best to pressurize your (cold) system and look for the leak. It is a 5 minute job and will save you hours. AZ will "rent" you a kit for the day. Start early and that will leave you enough time to order parts if necessary.

tpi 421 vette

I think a water pump would be your most likely source of the leak. especially if you have more than 80-90,000 miles on it. When they first start going out, they will leak off and on. And get worse from there.

ghoastrider1

You cant see the weep hole on the bottom of the pump. If seal inside the pump is going bad, that's where it will leak from, best of luck.

Wayne88

My leak was from the water pump gasket. Get a pressure tester [they are inexpensive]. Pressurize it, and you will find the leak in a minute.

Joe C

w/ the above - WP gasket, or more so, the mounting hardware, especially the LH or drivers side. one of the mounting bolts goes into the block's water jacket. most times, if the WP was replaced, the block's mounting threads and corresponding bolts should have been clean, dry, and free of any residual coolant prior to installing the WP with sealant on the mounting bolts. if not, it's just a matter of time before you develop a leak. this is one of those areas where it pays to be **** -

Hot Rod Roy

Stick your digital camera down there to inspect that weep hole.

Water pump weep hole:

3D-Aircrew

So it turns out that the pump was leaking. Got a new pump from Autozone. What a PITA job, still not finished. FSM says the AC must come out but moving it & the fuel lines out of the way works but PITA. Every step of the way it's fighting me. The bottom hose clamps especially difficult. Got the old water pump out and of course the minor heater feed port was seized in the old unit ... took some persuading but got it off.

Today is a miserable day in N Florida so I'm probably going to finish up tomorrow.

billschroeder5842

If C4s teach us nothing else, it will teach us patience and perseverance.

mickey5

How about the tanks on the ends of the radiator. They look like plastic??

Hot Rod Roy

What would you expect in a plastic car?

dizwiz24

My 93 leaked at radiator.

plastic side tank junction.

i chased every hose and fitting , incorrectly, when it was the radiator

JrRifleCoach

Nows the time to flush the cooling system before replacing the pump. If thats what your planning to do. Using any radiator/cooling system flush product load it up, run it, and flush it out. Make sure the heater control valve is open as well. Might as well pull the block plug and knock sensor to get as much water out as possible.

Never hurts to hit the engine compartment with a pressure washer while your at it.