coolant leak! Need help!

[DMLUCI]

I have an 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier, 87,000 miles. I recently noticed a coolant leak the other day and believe its coming from somewhere behind my alternator. Thats the passenger side near the back of the engine. It is leaking massive amount of coolant. And I was wondering what the problem might be and how I can go about fixing it?? I read something about a weep hole???

[jandj]

It's been awhile since I worked on one that old, but IIRC the early Cavs had the water pump sort of under the alternator. If water's coming out of the weep hole it may look like's its coming out behind the alternator.

Again, I'm trying to remember doing this laying in a gravel driveway as it got dark but it seems like you could cheat the job by loosening the bolts on the water pump pulley while the belt was tight, then loosen the belt and remove the pulley. Take the pump part from the housing and replace it from the front ( you'll need to loosen the pass. inner fender shield and get it out of the way ) of the motor.

If my remembery is faulty, someone will be along to correct it shortly!

[richtazz]

There are coolant pipes that are known to rust out over time that go along the back of the engine to the heater core. If your car is a v6, the water pump is at the front of the engine toward the radiator and the alternator is toward the back. If you have a 2.0 4 cylinder, the alternator and water pump are both at the front of the engine and the water pump is under the alternator. IF your leak is at the back of the engine, I would suspect the metal heater core feed line, as this is a common problem

[public]

Is this a four cylinder? If so there is a bypass hose under the alt. Cost about $3