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Coolant Leaking

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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 11:11 PM
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From: Chandler AZ
Default Coolant Leaking

I have coolant leaking from around the water pump on my '00 vette. It appears to be coming from behind the pump, to the right of the thermostat/hoses. It seems to only do it when the pressure in the system has dropped after the car has been turned off for some time. I pulled the water pump and inspected it as well as the seals between the pump and engine block. There is no glaring cluprit, but I am inclined to attribute it to the left seal due to the proximity of the leak. Is it possible that it is this simple? Do these water pumps fail as often as other GM water pumps (I've been through several on a '95 Camaro)?

What is the trick to refilling the cooling system? How do I get the air out?
Thanks in advance!
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Old Nov 30, 2007 | 04:57 PM
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Well I can tell you on a 2004 there is nothing special about filling the
coolant. Except 50/50 dex cool, fill to level,start run at 2000-2500
until reach operating temp. IDLE for 3minutes, let cool recheck level.

nothing special about these water pumps either, they are like any other
when they want to leak, they will leak,especially when bearing failure on
the pump out the wheep hole it comes
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Old Nov 30, 2007 | 05:01 PM
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Its all right here on the Drain and Fill

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...55&postcount=3

as for swapping the water pump....piece of cake...just did one on an 02. Ordered from Gene Culley got a good deal.

Last edited by pewter99; Nov 30, 2007 at 05:04 PM.
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Old Nov 30, 2007 | 05:53 PM
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
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It also could be one of the hoses going to it on the left side they could of not been tightened enough, cracked or split at some point!

Just now that it is off do a thurough inspection especially if you have the stock hose clamps!

Thanks,Matt
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Old Nov 30, 2007 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by jirasvet
Well I can tell you on a 2004 there is nothing special about filling the
coolant. Except 50/50 dex cool, fill to level,start run at 2000-2500
until reach operating temp. IDLE for 3minutes, let cool recheck level.

nothing special about these water pumps either, they are like any other
when they want to leak, they will leak,especially when bearing failure on
the pump out the wheep hole it comes
I would even recommend you use distilled water and when filling, go right up to just below the little "cross bars" in the tank that you see when you remove the cap.
HTH
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 12:40 AM
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Hey, may be this helps ...I had same thing on mine Z When the engine was cold while the car was in the garage I noticed something wet ,,,I thought may be i spilled some because i just changed coolent not that long ago anti-frizz ...make long story short it was leaking somewhere under the pump...so I took the pump off inspected the gaskets ...its really hard to tell where it was leaking so what i did i had some of that i think it coled RV selicone ... hi temp gasket maker , put a little bead of it all away around the gasket and put the pump back on, tightnted the bolts not all the way just to the point when you see that selicone started to come out....waited about a hour than tightned all the way .........left it over night ...than next day fill it up with the anti-frizz ....and it never leaked since .....
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 03:54 PM
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From: Chandler AZ
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Originally Posted by bob22z06
Hey, may be this helps ...I had same thing on mine Z When the engine was cold while the car was in the garage I noticed something wet ,,,I thought may be i spilled some because i just changed coolent not that long ago anti-frizz ...make long story short it was leaking somewhere under the pump...so I took the pump off inspected the gaskets ...its really hard to tell where it was leaking so what i did i had some of that i think it coled RV selicone ... hi temp gasket maker , put a little bead of it all away around the gasket and put the pump back on, tightnted the bolts not all the way just to the point when you see that selicone started to come out....waited about a hour than tightned all the way .........left it over night ...than next day fill it up with the anti-frizz ....and it never leaked since .....

I stopped by the dealership today to get fresh seals and was able to ask a repair tech if they replace many corvette water pumps or if it is just the seals that usually fail. He said most of the time it is just the seals. Usually the one on the drivers side but, sometimes the other. I believe mine is the other. It sounds like you solved yours with a tube of gasket maker. Hopefully a fresh gasket will get me there.
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 03:58 PM
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From: Chandler AZ
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[QUOTE=pewter99;1562971788]Its all right here on the Drain and Fill

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...55&postcount=3

Thanks for the link. That will help! I'm off to piece this back together so I can park the Camaro and get back to driving the Vette!

Thanks to all for the input!
Dave
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Old Dec 1, 2007 | 06:04 PM
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
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Originally Posted by AZ-vette
I stopped by the dealership today to get fresh seals and was able to ask a repair tech if they replace many corvette water pumps or if it is just the seals that usually fail. He said most of the time it is just the seals. Usually the one on the drivers side but, sometimes the other. I believe mine is the other. It sounds like you solved yours with a tube of gasket maker. Hopefully a fresh gasket will get me there.
Make sure you use the Gasket Sealer too!

I did this on my MEZIERE Electric Pump's gaskets too! no problems whatsoever!

Thanks,Matt
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