There is a fast leak in my 2006 LaCrosse CXL 3800 engine.

I know that leaks from those elbow shaped joints are common but the ones on mine are aluminum and dont appear to leak. its also not the hoses or the water pump gasket.

it leaking from somethere behind the water pump maybe the timing chain cover. im not sure where so im opening it up to look,. im trying to get the timing cover out

I have the alternator out and the belt and the tensioner pulley. there were 4 long screws that when i took out a lot of antifreeze came out, they go from the water pump directly into the block? its really weird. they also had sealant on them so i know it might be those but i dont really think so because it looked like its from somewhere else.

now im trying to get the timing cover out without taking the power steering pulley out. is it possible? id appreciate any insight or suggestion.

i feel like there could be a crack in the timing case or the block itself. im desperte. i dont see any leak from gaskets.

Go through the holes in the PS pulley, there are two 10 or 13 MM bolts, that hold the pump to the block...remove them and then position the pump aside...

thanks man ill try it first thing in the morning. so the pump and the pulley come out together?

I got it out. thanks again it was super easy. do you know if the timing chain cover comes off by itself or do i have to open the water pump first?

i tried to find a diagram like the one you posted for it. but i didnt find it on google. i searched buick v6 3.8 timing cover removal and mostly diagram for fords and camaros came up.

i think its leaking from behind this. i dont know how i just wanna get it out and look. there is a lot of corrosion behind it.

Never seen one leak from behind the water pump housing. If you still need to pull that, you need to pull the harmonic balancer.

If its just damp, don't worry about it, if its wet, fix it.

are you saying it never leaks from the gasket there? if not that. then the only place that the leak can possobly originate is the 4 long bolts that go from in front of the water pump to the block. do you agree?

its a fast leak. in 2 minutes anything you put in there pours out.

please help me with this:

there are 5 long bolts that go from the water pump right through the timing cover inside the block. when i took them out, 4 of them are long and the samer height and the one in the front is short. im thinking that its broken in half in there. there is a lot of corrosion there. a lot but i cant get a better look without first taking it out.

my question is: are all 5 supposed to be the same height? are all 5 long bolts? because if there are then i know for sure its broken.

ok i made a mistake, the 5th bolt, the short one, does not go on the water pump it is right under it and that is why its short. anyway there is a lot of corrosion there and the leak is also from there.