92 Jeep Cherokee leaking coolant

My Jeep has been leaking coolant for the past few days. I can't really tell from where, seems to be under and or behind the water pump. When the truck is hot it seems to be leaking from where the bottom hose meets the water pumps. When it's cold I filled it the radiator with water and it seems to be leaking around the manifold seal below and behind the water pump.

again I can't tell for sure because the Jeep is parking on an angle, and the fluid could just be running along the manifold.

I suspect there is a number of problems going on with the cooling system. The thermostat seems to work, the pump don't know bad it is. I've been driving around the past few days and kept putting water in it. Yesterday it got hot for the first time and coolant leaked out the top hose by the thermostat. Then a hissing sound from the drivers side part of the engine.

This is 92 Jeep Cherokee laredo In-line 6.

I'll list some pics I have of the general location of the dripping fluid below.

Are there sites that specialize in cooling systems where I could get advice?

Also any temporary ways I can stop the leak or leaks, lower the pressure, and keep the engine from overheating? I need to drive back and forth to the auto parts store.

I also checked the oil, didn't seem to be coolant in it, but it also needed oil.

Thanks for any help. Not sure how difficult it would be to replace the water pump in this Jeep. If that's my problem.


Leaking while hot near the lower hose.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1667/bottomhose.jpg

Top hose while hot.

http://img193.imageshack.us/i/tophose.jpg/

Lower dripping/leaking while cold

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4865/lower1.jpg

Lower again. Different perspective.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/632/lower2p.jpg

Based on your description alone, I'd guess that you might need a new water pump. Modern pumps are designed with a "weep hole" which, as the bearing begins to fail, start to weep, or leak, coolant.

From your pictures, it looks like your hoses are in need of replacement. What I'd do after seeing everything, is to replace the water pump, thermostat, and associated gaskets (leaky gaskets are certainly possible on an older vehicle) as well as the upper and lower radiator hoses, and the heater hoses.

Ok, you're not going to like to hear this but it will help...start it and run it. Let it get hot(not insanely but more than usual). Shut it off and see if the coolant(if any left) in the resovoir is boiling. If that's the case then it could be few different problems...one of the most common with this diagnosis being the radiator.
To test the water pump, pull the serp belt and jiggle(yes jiggle) the pulley. If it has any play at all, then you have a great starting point. If no jiggle then I would start small with some new hoses since it looks like you need them anyway, some new clamps(it's happened) and a thermostat(prob wouldn't cause the leak but change it while your in there). Try it that way, if that doesn't solve it you're going to have to weigh the pro's and cons and think about going after the head gasket and/or manifold gaskets. Also, check the oil for coolant at this point(Tip: it is possible to have a cracked block with out seeing a mix of these two but not the norm).

At any rate, straight 6 is an awesome motor but when something like this happens, a bitch to diag.

Happy Jeeping! Good luck!

easy way to check the head/head gasket is to buy a test kit that test your radiator fluid for any signs of exhaust residue. If positive, need to pull your head. First though I'd replace hoses, thermostat and pump cause you probably need them anyway. Radiators usually need replacement too at some point, especially on a '92.

by the way, that tranny line running to the radiator needs replacement.

water pump is a known problem on these models.

Well I let the jeep sit all night and most of the day without disturbing it. I checked underneath and It wasn't leaking. Then I remove the radiator cap and it starts to drip. Then I put the cap back on and it stops dripping in a few minutes. This is happening while the Jeep is cold.

I looked underneath and the leak seems to be coming from above the lower hose, and just a little in front of it. Looks like it's dripping from behind the pulley.

I have some photos of this below.

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8347/drip1.jpg

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/1717/drip2.jpg

Up close pic from behind the pulley.

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/5260/pully.jpg

Now what kind work load Am I looking at to replace the water pump on this straight six? Looks like I have to remove both fans to access it, and that might not be enough room.

Here is a few pics from above.

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/895/top1.jpg

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/9991/top2.jpg

Anyone have any links to some good online tech manuals for replacing the water pump in this exact jeep and straight six engine? Thanks for the help...

Oh I pulled on the serpentine belt and pulley and it was tight.

About how much life do I have left in this water pump? Any tricks to extent it and keep the Jeep from losing coolant, and overheating?

The water pump will continue to get worse over time, best to replace soon. You can get a Chilton's manual and it will have step by step instructions. Google is your friend if you want to find a "how to" online.

Water pump. If it leaks, drips from behind the pulley. Water pump. Grab a Manual if you're going to do your own work. Or if you want to be able to find the problems on your own. Both save lots of money because you'll know what you're doing. Along with the manual, go to the Autozone web site. They have online manuals. Not to promote them, but the Autozones in my area are pretty good stores. I always buy the lifetime parts. Never ever a problem if they go bad. And the parts are decent. Had an alternator for my chevy go out. Bought lifetime. This alternator went out after 2-1/2 years. But had over 175,000 miles on it. And they are on a computer data base so I don't even have to have my receipt to get the warranty. Not too bad.