98 caravan water pump problem

[gbeach]

my engine cooling fans are staying on to long. my antifreeze reservoir
overflowed while it was idling, but the temp gauge is running right in the
middle. I also seem to have a very slow drip below water pump area.
i changed the water pump and timing belt 70k ago. please someone tell me if it could be anything but the water pump. the temp gauge staying in the middle has me stumped. but the fans staying on and the leak are telling me reality

[Vats]

Originally Posted by gbeach

my engine cooling fans are staying on to long. my antifreeze reservoir
overflowed while it was idling, but the temp gauge is running right in the
middle. I also seem to have a very slow drip below water pump area.
i changed the water pump and timing belt 70k ago. please someone tell me if it could be anything but the water pump. the temp gauge staying in the middle has me stumped. but the fans staying on and the leak are telling me reality

Try replacing the thermostat, sounds like it may be only partially opening, but if the water pump is leaking, cound also be that.

What year and engine is your van?

[gbeach]

Originally Posted by Vats

Try replacing the thermostat, sounds like it may be only partially opening, but if the water pump is leaking, cound also be that.

What year and engine is your van?

98 3.0l
today the antifreeze reservoir overflowed on me while idling. when i run the heater it cools down enough to keep the fans from turning on

[gary v]

Originally Posted by gbeach

my engine cooling fans are staying on to long. my antifreeze reservoir
overflowed while it was idling, but the temp gauge is running right in the
middle. I also seem to have a very slow drip below water pump area.
i changed the water pump and timing belt 70k ago. please someone tell me if it could be anything but the water pump. the temp gauge staying in the middle has me stumped. but the fans staying on and the leak are telling me reality

My 99 gc 3.8 ltr did the same thing 2 or 3 mths ago. I changed the rad cap thinking that it might be worn out & opening with less preasure, & it has not done it since.Not sure if that was the cause of the problem since the weather has been on the cool side since I changed it. It was about 80 outside when it first happened.

[600KLancer]

The overflow from the overflow bottle is definately coming from a bad radiator cap. If it doesnt hold pressure in the system the coolant will boil easily and the air bubbles force coolant out of the overflow. The fan is staying on becuase the radiator is not full and the engine is running alittle hotter. Not enough to make the gauge go all the way hot.

Andy

[gbeach]

well like a dumb ass, i went ahead and changed the water pump and timing belt which is a ***** on a 3 liter. still overheating just above the
middle mark. only have the thermostat and sensors and cap left. well checked the thermostat, which i should have checked first. it had broken in half and part of it was just laying there. changing tonight along with the cap.

[HeadlessHorseman]

Originally Posted by gbeach

well like a dumb ass, i went ahead and changed the water pump and timing belt which is a ***** on a 3 liter. still overheating just above the
middle mark. only have the thermostat and sensors and cap left. well checked the thermostat, which i should have checked first. it had broken in half and part of it was just laying there. changing tonight along with the cap.

A slow leak around the water pump probably meant that the pump bushing was worn out and coolant was being pushed under pressure around it. Consider yourself lucky the bushing didn't blow 100's of miles from home and pat yourself on the back for taking care of a small problem that most definitely would have become a HUGE problem later (been there, done that)... good job!

[gbeach]

thanks for the praise, i need it after that job.
now on to the f250 clutch master cylinder