Coolant reservoir cap leak

Hi Guys,

I have a 97 SL2 that I have changed the reservoir cap on 3 times in the last 6 months and am having the same problem.

When the car idles for longer than ten minutes, steam pours out from under the cap. Any other time I do not loose coolant. I have been on several 4 hour trips lately with no problems as long as I stayed away from a drive thru or stopped traffic. I have tried tightening over and over and have replaced the cap 3 times and still get the same thing. The reservoir tank looks in good order from what I can tell and I am certain that the steam is coming from the cap.

Any help is apperciated.

that happen to my 95 sw2 last year, it turned out to be the warter pump.

is it running hot?

No it's not even close to running hot, its mainly a quarter of the way and at the most a third of the way when it does this or any other time. I usually don't let it run much longer while steam is pouring out of the hood.

Octpaul
I am courious to know how it could be the water pump when at any other condition the car is fine? I am not saying you are wrong, it just seems odd and I would have to have a pretty good reason to replace the pump.

Is the pump hard to replace? I have changed one on my 95 eclipse and on a 94 Mazada pickup and they both were hell.

Thanks for the replys.

well, after changing the cap, and thermostat, and adding water and coolant for a week, i took it to the machanic, and that's what he told me. i don't remember the exact cost. some machanics wont charge you to look at it. what do you have to lose!.....I would not wait to long to have it checked out..
it's to cold outside right now to be working on cars.
i have not changed a waterpump in more than ten years.
good luck........Paul