My car has been running fine for a while and then i started to get a little white smoke and a coolant leak. So i took the head off again -- Cometic headgasket looked fine, traces of overflow but no damage - i made sure the blockguard was 1/8 below all around and replace the stock studs with arp.

With everything back in place the car started fine....no leaks but still a little white smoke but no where near what it was....then the next day coolant started leaking again and temp started going up (wasnt boosted at all maybe hit 1lb). Not just a slow drip and not pouring out either

Now i cant seem to find or understand the coolant leak. I took the intake manifold off to see everything better cause it look like it was coming from the back.
No leaks anywhere around the headgasket.
I get a little pool above the oil pan and on the gold bracket off the crank gear and all around the lip off the oil pan on the crank side.
If i pull the dipstick out i dont see no signs of coolant there

Is the headgasket still bad or worst?
Car idles fine and rides fine, but with the coolant leak it wants to overheat right away.
It is still smoking like its buring oil just not as much...can the headgasket be leaking coolant into an oil camber or something and then dropping down from there

Any suggestions on what to do
Thanks for any help ahead of time


[Modified by NeXtLeVeL_TyPe_R, 4:55 PM 5/28/2002]


[Modified by NeXtLeVeL_TyPe_R, 5:01 PM 5/28/2002]

 

which side is the leak ? driver's or passenger's side ? front or rear ?

is coolant leaking from side of block/head or front or rear ?

greg

 

drivers side
towards the rear
looks like bottom off the block

 

sounds like rubber o-ring behiond the waterpump ... or the bolts themselves on the water pump are not tightened or stripped.

Greg

 

Yes I agree, water pump. If you recently changed it they probably over tightened the bolts and stripped them, causing a leak. Water pumps are a pain to get to but simple in procedure, have fun!

 

I never changed my water pump or taken it apart, I guess i can check the rubber o ring...anyone have any detail on how to deinstall it to check it out

 

Anyone with help on the water pump idea or on other suggestions

 

I hope I don't sound like a *****, but do you have a service manual? It helps a lot in stuff like this.

To get to the water pump you need to remove the timing belt cover; the water pump sprocket is right below the intake side camshaft sprocket. There are to my recollection 4 10mm bolts holding the water pump in.

 

First get an OEM manual. You can order them from any dealer or you can get them from helms.

If you have the money (probably $50), have a shop do it. Some things are good to do to learn about and see how its done, like a clutch, etc. Water pumps are very simple IF they were easy to get to on our motors. However, it is a royal pain to do it, so I would suggest just having a shop do it. It doesn't have to be a dealer, so don't go get ripped off. Any bubba can do a water pump for you, and if you are just going to replace the thing order it from manchesterhonda to save a few more bucks.

Of course before you have them replace it make sure they verify to you that it is the source of leaking.


[Modified by trbob16a, 8:13 PM 5/28/2002]

 

Well i found it thank god. I took all the plastics off and ran it without them and i saw the dripping from the bottom of the water pump.

One of the bottom screws wasnt there i put a replacement screw in and no more leak.

The funny thing is i never touched the water pump or its screws once.

Thanks for the leads guys

-installing 370's today -- tuning them and will be at full boost later in the week