water pump?

[gbeach]

2006 chrysler pacifica, small antifreeze leak below drive belt, and cooling fans
coming on immediately upon starting car. anyone have this problem

[madmanmapper]

I assume you have the 3.5L (think it was the only engine for this year) and it's also infamous for having water pump problems... I don't know about the radiator fans though. According to my dad, the 3.5L needs a new water pump every 20,000 miles. Don't mean to scare you, but that's the 3.5L for you. I should look into this problem myself and see if there is a way to make a better water pump. My dad claims that this has something to do with a thin piece of aluminum that they could have made thicker... so I'm guessing that you could have a custom piece machined.

Anyway, I always tell people not to buy a car with the 3.5L... but apparently I got to you too late.

Change the water pump... That's most likely your problem. And I would buy it from a dealer if that's within your budget, assuming you are doing this yourself.

[gbeach]

Madman,
Yes it is the water pump. but I did get 97k out of it. putting a dealer one
back in. I am confused about one thing. do you have to take radiator fan assy out of it. it looks like it depends on which engine mount comes off.
service manual doesn't explain real well. You are right the pump body is
pretty thin. yes it is the 3.5. didn't have much of a choice, got it cheap
through my work.

[madmanmapper]

I have no idea, I've never done the job, only heard horror stories from my dad O_o... sorry!

[gbeach]

got it done, but guess what. wasn't the water pump. was the water outlet gasket at lower rad. hose. what fun i have had