Dash01

Newly installed (actually rebuilt unit from Zims') waterpump appears to be leaking slightly. Symptom is slow drip from the bottom of the plastic belt housing, at about one drip every couple of seconds.

If the leak were from the pump to engine block gasket, seemingly the coolant would run down the front of the engine, but not onto the plastic belt housing. The fact that the coolant drips from the bottom of the belt cover suggests the pulley weep hole MAY be the source. The hoses/clamps are dry.

At least one person has suggested that a water pump may take a while for the pulley seal to seat itself, and may leak a bit in the meantime. OTOH, every other pump I've ever installed did not leak whatever.

What to do about this?

Dave951M

Replace the pump. If it had a warantee, get it exchanged. It's not an unheard of experience for a "rebuilt" part to be bad right out of the box, especially for starters and alternators. I've never heard of a pulley seal needing to "seat itself".

theedge

Im going to vote for replace too... Maybe stepping up to a new one. Hindsight is always 20/20, I wish I had put a new pump in my car. I dont have any problems that seem to be pump related, but still... Peace of mind.

pete944

That is just lousy luck but I agree, replace it.

joseph mitro

are you sure the timing belt is not tensioned too tightly?

Dash01

Would tensioning the belt too tight cause the pump to leak?

Assuming the belt is too tight, would loosening it fix the leak?

Dave951M

Not hardly.

No.

Get a new pump. Unless you're feeling lucky.