Front coolant leak 2004 2.7L

[jwalker1970]

Just wanted to post the following fix:

Front coolant leak on a 2004 intrepid 2.7 APPEARS to be leaking water pump.

Customer had it mis-diagnosed at another shop. They said "defective water pump". And to the un-trained mechanic, it looks like a water pump leak.

However the 2.7L has an internal water pump. It will only leak INTO THE OIL, not externally. If you don't have coolant in your oil, you're water pump is not leaking.
The upper coolant housing (upper hose hooks to) has an integrated silicone rubber gasket. It is not available through Fel-pro or even Mopar. Mopar says replace complete housing ($85 wholesale).

The actual problem is that the two rectangular shaped o-rings molded to the housing seep coolant when hot & under pressure.

I cut a paper gasket out of Fel-pro gasket paper, glued it to the housing, skim coated other side of gasket with silicone & installed.

NO LEAKS!!!