Cyrus951

Here's the problem,

When I replaced/bled my coolant, I loosened the air bleeder valve located behind the airbox. Well, after loosening it, I noticed that coolant was leaking from under the timing belt cover. But, as soon as I tightend the bleeder valve, it stopped. Is this a waterpump issue? What could be wrong? Perhaps this is why my temperature gauge is giving me incorrect readings..

Tom M'Guinn

When you open the bleeder, coolant leaks out and runs down the head and the front of the motor -- is this the coolant that is leaking out the cover?

When my waterpump went bad, I had coolant inside the timing cover (whenever the car was running). I was unaware of it until the car started missing badly. I pulled the cap and found it soaking wet with coolant -- the timing belt acts like a little conveyor belt bringing coolant up to the rotor when the pump goes bad. Very helpful.

Songzzz

Isn't it normal for coolant to eventually flow out of the bleeding valve?

Cyrus951

It didn't leak from the head, it just dripped from the bottom of the timing belt cover.

Peckster

The bleed valve is on top of the motor. Is there another one behind the airbox?

mark944turbo

Haha, that conveyer belt thing is something I never thought of. I know I have a leaking waterpump, perhaps this is causing my missing at high rpms...

PorscheDoc

The angle of the engine in the engine bay, should cause coolant to leak back over the top of the engine, not down the front, from my experience. Maybe if you where parked downhill, it might leak down the front of the engine.

Cyrus951

I opened the bleeder valve yesterday, but as soon as I did coolant fizzed out, it was like opening a shooken up can of coke, so there is obviousley air in the system. I bled the system two weeks ago, could the broken seal on the pump allow air to get in?

How much is the new seal for the waterpump? What's the part number?
How long does it take to install? How much would it cost for a mechanic to do? Are there any online tutorials that could show me what to do when replacing the seal?

Thanks,

PorscheDoc

I would think a leaking seal on a waterpump is going to result in a pretty obvious coolant drip on your driveway. It is not hard to replace, but entails taking off the T&B belts obviously. It may be your pump that is on it's way out though and starting to leak. Clarks-garage will have the tutorial

Cyrus951

If it were a bad seal, wouldn't it leak WITHOUT the bleeder valve being opened?? That's what makes my problem so weird, it only leaks whenever that valve is open.

PorscheDoc

What you need to do is pull the timing cover off and see if you have an obvious mess inside the cover. Does it leak when you drive it at all, or overheat....does your coolant level change at all?