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Coolant leak help

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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 01:21 PM
  #1  
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Default Coolant leak help

my buddy found a coolant leak on his 03 Z06. the coolant seems to be dripping on the driverside of the leafspring. it happened a couple of days ago and is leaking a puddle about 6-8" across after sitting for 8-10 hours. any ideas of where to start to look for the leak? we are going to work on it sunday night but would like some ideas of where to start the process. the car is very clean underneath. we changed the oil 2 weeks ago and it was completely dry. also, he just bought the car last fall and started driving it this spring.
thanks!!
Rob
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 01:27 PM
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You will probably need to get it up on ramps to see better from underneath. After that, it't the usual hose and clamp check. Also, this sounds like it could be a water pump issue, but you can tell when you look better. Good luck!
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 01:50 PM
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water pump
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 01:56 PM
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Here is what happened to mine.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...s-cracked.html
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Old Apr 17, 2010 | 01:57 PM
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thanks guys. we've done a bit of reading and it seems the water pump gasket or the input shaft seal (on the water pump) are likely the cause. do you know, can the input shaft seal be replaced or does the whole water pump need to be replaced?
thanks!!

Hey calgary, who you cheering for? pretty sad neither of our teams made the playoffs hey? :o
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 07:54 PM
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There was a time where I would have messed with it. It's probably not worth it to go through all the trouble of taking it out, apart, repair, and replace, then stand back and see it it works. Better to have another one ready for the install.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 08:04 PM
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water pump Been there done that
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 08:11 PM
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I say radiator. If the rad hasn't been replaced then it would be a good starting point and relatively easy to check. When I had a similar leak as yours I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I removed the top rad cover and began to inspect it, then found a 4 inch hair line crack on both sides of the PVC end tank on the rad. Anyways...doesn't hurt to check!

Cheers.
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Old Apr 18, 2010 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 00 Rooster
thanks guys. we've done a bit of reading and it seems the water pump gasket or the input shaft seal (on the water pump) are likely the cause. do you know, can the input shaft seal be replaced or does the whole water pump need to be replaced?
thanks!!

Hey calgary, who you cheering for? pretty sad neither of our teams made the playoffs hey? :o
The input shaft seal would be a pain in the butt to replace and finding the correct part might be even harder. The replacement of the waterpump on a C5 is about as easy as it gets
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Old Apr 19, 2010 | 01:59 PM
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thanks everyone, looks like it is the water pump gasket. I'll let you know how the repair goes
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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by STALION
I say radiator. If the rad hasn't been replaced then it would be a good starting point and relatively easy to check. When I had a similar leak as yours I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I removed the top rad cover and began to inspect it, then found a 4 inch hair line crack on both sides of the PVC end tank on the rad. Anyways...doesn't hurt to check!

Cheers.
Like this?

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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted by STALION
I say radiator. If the rad hasn't been replaced then it would be a good starting point and relatively easy to check. When I had a similar leak as yours I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I removed the top rad cover and began to inspect it, then found a 4 inch hair line crack on both sides of the PVC end tank on the rad. Anyways...doesn't hurt to check!

Cheers.
If the rad is leaking how is it driping on the leaf?
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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 03:35 PM
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I would suspect the water pump or related gaskets based on reported guess of where water is coming from. A water pump failure can be accompanied by some squealing and or wobbling of the "bell" or whatever you want to call it.
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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 05:36 PM
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changed the water pump and red at FIRST sign.
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