coolant leak?

[gbeach]

98 3.0l, Okay now I am pretty handy. I have changed water pump before,
and front main crank seal. But I'll be If I can't tell where this leak is coming from. Definitely coolant, and it is puddling up on the lower front bumper on
the inside. I found by parking on a slope and it ran out to one side. But I can't see where it is coming from. thinking about putting dye in it. that has helped before. hoping it is not the radiator, but don't see anything obvious.
any ideas

[Bear]

Passenger or drivers side leak. If drivers side, have you drained and refilled the radiator lately, if so, did you oput a new "O" ring on the drain plug, these devils tend to tear when the plug is removed and generally require a new "O" ring.

[gbeach]

yes, I just got done with the water pump 3 weeks ago. did not change oring.
did not know there was one. I still can't tell which side it is on. but it wasn't leaking before I did the water pump. I will check. Have not jacked up where
i can look yet.

[gbeach]

Is that hard to do.

[gbeach]

went out to check and it was wet at the front grille where the petcock is.
that looks like thats it. how do you get the petcock out with out breaking it.
Does it just twist all the way out..

[earlyrizr]

it will unscrew most of the way then you will have to pull on it .( I needed pliers to do it)There are small slots in the rad portion which align up with the tabs on the plug.I went and got a new on from the dealer for a few bucks before I started this. Now I usually undo the bottom rad hose,makes it easier.

[Bear]

I second the removing lower hose to drain the system.

[gbeach]

thanks for the info. that is what i thought. I will do rad. hose from now on.
to late for me now. Saw one at autozone, and I thought you had to twist then pull. just wanted to make sure before I break something and end up doing a radiator instead. Just did the water pump and would like at least a 2 month break before something else breaks. I will look for alignment tabs, thanks bear and earlyrizr, I never would have looked at that, I was sure it was going to be the radiator.

[gbeach]

one more question. drain plug closed is parallel to the ground. so I turn it counterclockwise. then pull, or turn clockwise some after turning counterclockwise. read on a 3.3l you turn counter, then back 1/4 turn and pull. i have 3.0l.