speedyB

While idling for a few minutes (less than 5), I suddenly noticed the CEL had turned on. Then noticed that the heat guage was blinking at its high end, although the thermometer hadn't gone way up. Looked in the rear view and noticed smoke or steam rising from the engine bay.

I hopped out, popped the lid on the rear hatch, and saw more smoke, mostly white. Funny smell. No flames. Then, a puddle of green fluid was forming right behind the right-side rear tire.

Can anyone speculate as to what the problem might be?

Thanks in advance,

Bill

marlinspike

Some coolant hose is leaking..though I guess you may have figured that. You can rule out expansion tank since it was on the right side. I hope you didn't run the engine like this for too long. This won't be a big deal to have fixed.

LVDell

....or a water pump that has gone bad.

djantlive

Jack up the car to see what's leaking. If you need to take it to the mechanic, have the car towed on a flatbed. Don't try to drive and toast your engine.

marlinspike

In my experience (though this is with front engine cars and something I'm learning is that everything in a rear engine car is somehow oriented atypically), leaking waterpumps won't go all of a sudden, and in the early stages typically the leak stops when you start the car, especially as the engine warms (the heat swells the seal and the impeller moves the water past and up, so it doesn't leak, until the seal is just really bad).

1999Porsche911

There is a small water hose under the right side of the engine that has a crappy clamop on it. Could be that simple.

LVDell

Mine went in a matter of days. Leaked as he descibed, I topped it off. Leaked again, then BLAM!!!! Pissed all over the place. That was noly 4 months ago and I am glad it was covered under warranty since it was right after Christmas.

1999Porsche911

Water pump is on the left sdie of engine.

LVDell

Correct, just left of center.

gota911

BTW, Merry Christmas!

LVDell

Cheap shot Tim! But I like it