So...I just bought this car as has been previously posted and it's starting to have some problems.

One being the coolant leak. Started to over heat yesterday and so I checked and the radiator was bone dry and the reservoir had frozen water in it. Took care of that problem but today I went out to start it.

Let it sit for a few and the rough idle got me to open the hood and I spotted the leak. I'm 90% sure its the waterpump as it looks like its coming from the engine and on the right side where the pump and timing belt are.

Anything else I can do to make sure thats what this is? I filled it yesterday and now all the coolant is on the ground in front of my house. We looked and there is a steady stream, not a drip, from what looks to be the engine.

Also, there is a rough idle and by rough i mean it jumps from 1500-3000 rpms and never evens out.

Any thoughts on that? IACV seems to be the biggest response I've looked up but still...it'll make that big of a difference?

I also know that people recommend change a slew of other parts when changing the water pump but I just don't have the money for that now.

 

If there's no coolant it will idle high, like 3 grand ish. If there is air in the cooling system the idle will fluctuate.

Really does sound like the water pump. Replace it with a genuine Honda pump unless you feel like doing it again in another year or so. Obviously replace the coolant with actual coolant as well (regular coolant will do, but the Honda stuff doesn't cost that much more and it is better stuff, doesn't even look like regular coolant)

 

Ok, so then that could be the issue with the rough idle as well then?

Any serious damage to worry about here? I'm replacing the pump sat and wont be driving it at all till it's done.

Flush and replace coolant, change pump and clean iacv? Should about cover it as far as basic trouble shooting no?

 

Lack of coolant is almost definately the problem with the rough idle. If it overheated you may or may not have a blown headgasket. Hope for the best.

 

Draining, refilling, and bleeding the cooling system may be all that is needed to solve the idle problem after the replacing the water pump.

 

I really hope so. When I say it over heated I mean the gauge climbed to the H yes. It would drop to the normal and go up again. I made it home fine with no problems and no loss of power or anything so I really don't think I did anything serious BUT you never know till I actually change it.

Thanks guys. Just talked to previous owner and he said he replaced the pump back in 2006 about 40k ago.

 

There's always a risk of engine damage whenever the temp needle rises to H. Good luck.

Post pictures showing exactly where you see coolant leaking from.