98 Lumina Coolant Leak

jlowens01 · 11-05-2004, 01:11 PM

I searched for this, but didn't have any luck. If the answer is in another thread, please point me in the right direction. It appears that I have a coolant leak. It is on the passenger side of the car. It is getting on the belt, so it is everywere on that side. I understand that it could be the water pump, but are there other likely causes? I replaced the lower hose on that side hoping to get lucky, but of course that wasn't it. Any suggestions?

dwalmop · 11-05-2004, 01:38 PM

Could be the water pump, could also be the dreaded lower intake manifold gasket. Can you be more specific on exactly where it's coming from ?

jlowens01 · 11-05-2004, 01:49 PM

Unfortunately not. At least not yet. I haven't had the chance to get a good look yet. The problem is that there is coolant everywhere on that side of the engine, so it's not going to be easy to find it. The dealership has "offered" to hook it up to a pressure tester to find the leak, but I haven't taken them up on it yet. That may be my next step. What is the easiest way to tell if the pump is bad?

richtazz · 11-05-2004, 03:46 PM

if it's a 3.1, as you stand on the passengeer side of the car looking at the engine, the water pump is the smooth pulley toward the front of the car to your right. IF it's leaking bad enough to throw coolant all over the side of the engine, watch it with the engine running and you may be able to see it "throwing" coolant. If not, take the pulley off (4- 8mm bolts) and look at the "weep hole". Its a small hole thru the body of the water pump that helps cool the bearing. IF you see any coolant around that hole, the seal has went bad and you need a water pump.

jlowens01 · 11-10-2004, 11:09 AM

Thanks for the help. It looks like it may be the pump.

GTLumina · 11-10-2004, 12:56 PM

I had the same problem. It leaked for a long time and I assumed it was the water pump. I replaced it, which is easy and inexpensive and then my intake manifold gasket failed. I am still not sure if the original leak was the water pump or the intake gasket. However, as I said, a water pump is a little more than $20.00 and is easy to replace so try that first.

richtazz · 11-10-2004, 05:08 PM

at least you have one of the easiest water pumps there are to do. a total of 9 bolts. It takes longer to scrape the old gasket off then it does to replace the pump. you can pick one up at Advance Auto Parts for under $25, and it's a brand new one, not a reman, and comes with the gasket.

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