I'm losing coolant, maybe head gasket?
#11
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There may be two plastic elbows, the other is below the alternator. There are also some of the bolts that hold the timing chain cover on that go in to the heads and are open to the cooling jacket. If for some reason one of those bolts fell out, it would run out of there. It'* very hard to see.
#14
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On your 98 NA motor you have one plastic coolant elbow entering the LIM. If this is leaking you should be able to see it.
The lower elbow is metal and part of the tensioner assembly. If this is leaking it should appear as a leak above and left of the water pump.
The bolts that hold the timing cover on, only go into the block. They do penetrate the cooling jacket. Just block though, not heads. If your leak is coming from under the water pump pulley area, that'* almost positively a water pump. Holler if you need a how to on doing it. The bracket can be fun.
Timing cover. Hole to left is where the lower coolant elbow enters. Hole under WP is the weep hole
The lower elbow is metal and part of the tensioner assembly. If this is leaking it should appear as a leak above and left of the water pump.
The bolts that hold the timing cover on, only go into the block. They do penetrate the cooling jacket. Just block though, not heads. If your leak is coming from under the water pump pulley area, that'* almost positively a water pump. Holler if you need a how to on doing it. The bracket can be fun.
Timing cover. Hole to left is where the lower coolant elbow enters. Hole under WP is the weep hole
#16
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Been there...taken that bath too. Ever wanna mess with a newbie..have them pull the bolt or two from their NA block where the SC idler pulley #9 sits. Those are cooling jacket too.
#17
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Thanks for the responses guys! I do have a question about leaking water pumps. I always thought they only leaked when the pump was rotating? My leak pops up when the engine is cold and I fill up the radiator with coolant. As soon as I start the car it stops leaking. And to add insult to injury tonight I started the car to see if the the water pump leaks I smell gas and notice the where the gas line meets the fuel rail closest to the firewall is leaking. I guess I'll start a new thread for that!
#18
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Today after I changed my tensioner pulley I started the car to see if the serpentine belt was tracking properly. I then noticed the water pump pully had a slight wobble and it sounds like the bearings are going bad. Tomorrow I'll take a look through the passenger side wheel well to see if the leak is coming from the pump(I hope it is).
#20
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I changed the pump on Monday,the old one was leaking really bad and the bearings were shot. I've been watching the coolant level for the past few days and it hasn't moved, so I would say problem solved. Thanks for the help guys!