Help: Leaking Coolant!!!! Help!!!

[jonathancasey19]

Low coolant light came on last night. Check radiator hose and was fine. Topped off and drove home. Today, the entire driver-side undercarriage is covered with dripping coolant. I was told that it could be out of a weeping hole from the water pump? Where the hell is it I'm having trouble knowing what to look for exactly. If it was from that weeping hole, would it look like straight coolant?

 

[MWDHAND]

My LLY did the same thing. Weep hole did not lead sitting there but would blow the coolant out when driving. Put on a new water pump and problem solved!!!

 

[Jared Duramax]

if the coolant hose is soft its probably the water pump

 

[Sledhead]

If you change the pump you can avoid pulling the rad, etc if you pull two studs out for the pump to clear. The front damper needs to come off; I think we used an air chisel to loosen the large bolt IIRC. If the rad hose is hard it is probably head gaskets.

 

[jonathancasey19]

I'm changing water pump next Wednesday. Should be alright to keep it topped off till then. Used a/b 1/2 gallon in 80 miles.

 

[Dazedandconfused]

I would say that is were it is coming from. I put a new water pump on mine. I still smell coolent every once in a while though.

 

[Jared Duramax]

Jonathan are you puting it on or is somebody else doing it for you?

 

[eds04max]

Make sure it's not the aluminum line leaking at the bracket tab. (look just below the FICM). They are somewhat notorious for cracking at the weld-tab.
Goodluck.
Ed.

 

[jonathancasey19]

Dustin and I plan to do it next Wednesday when I finish with exams. Ed, I'll check for that tomorrow thanks.

 

[02duramatic]

curious, what is FICM? I am having same issue with my 02 chevy. i tightend hose clamp but that didnt solve anything, only spews under pressure, sounds like water pump area, i have ruled out hose clamp, my next guess is around the pipe that rises sorta diagnaly from water pump and has a wire on top. there is evidence of what looks like small old leaks around it. i think i added coolant in 2005/6 and then again last year, now it spews, so the old leak evidence explains why i lost coolant and have occasionaly smelled as well, but not any puddles. this week i added almost 1/2 gallon and after minimal driving, light back on. any details or info would be greatly appreaciated. 02 chevy, aproxx 75k

 

[770JOHNNYW]

I would say that is were it is coming from. I put a new water pump on mine. I still smell coolent every once in a while though.

watch that....when i started smelling it through the vents thats when i stated getting the black coolant bottle and she started eating coolant!

 

[Dazedandconfused]

watch that....when i started smelling it through the vents thats when i stated getting the black coolant bottle and she started eating coolant!

Its went away. I had been loosing coolant for a while and the bottom of the truck was covered. The smell has went away finally. Never smelt anything threw the vents just when i would get out and walk past the front of it.

 

[eds04max]

02duramatic............FICM= fuel injection control module. It is located on passenger side of engine, mounted over the valve cover toward the front.
The possible leaking aluminum line I was reffering to is just below the FICM, where the weld-tab is on the aluminum coolant line.
It sounds like your problem is likely the water-pump?? Get the truck up to operating temp and look under the truck for the weep hole in the water-pump...........if it's leaking as much as you describe..........it should be easy to see.
Good luck.:thumb:

 

[jonathancasey19]

water pump was my issue. zero problems since. thanks ed

 

[PhilsLB7]

watch that....when i started smelling it through the vents thats when i stated getting the black coolant bottle and she started eating coolant!

What problem is "black coolant" a sign of?

 

[Dazedandconfused]

What problem is "black coolant" a sign of?

Blown headgasket I would think.

 

[PhilsLB7]

Blown headgasket I would think.

I thought the black was probably coming from the soot in the engine but wasn't 100% sure. Thanks!

 

[Jared Duramax]

the black is soot from the motor and it means you have some sort of combustion chamber leak.

 

[bullfrogjohnson]

What problem is "black coolant" a sign of?

blown headgaskets. You have soot mixing with your coolant.

 

[68skylark455]

I thought the same thing till I found the oil cooler leaking. It mixed the oil and antifreeze together. Talk about a mess to get clean