Well the car has been running very good since the UIM/LIM gasket changes except for one more probelm.
I am still loosing water, at least it is not in the internal of the engine. This is around the area of the belt, everything is looking like water is leaking and the belt is making sure everything is getting wet which makes it hard to tell where the leak is coming from.
My suspision is the water pump, what do you think?
Does the W/P have some sort of seepage holes that could have broken?
Would it leak if a bolt was loose, I don't remember loosening a W/P bolts doing the UIM/LIM repair.
The engine temp is stable and at the normal reading that it should be 180-190 at all times.
I did a search and found the water pump looks to be an easy replacement procedure, is this correct? I don't have much time to do it and the local garage has quoted me $300.00 to replace it for me, sounds too high!
Remember, there is no sign of temp increase in the coolant as of yet.
Any recomendations of what it might be if you think it is not the water pump?

You wouldn't loosen any wp bolts during the UIM/LIM job. There are 2 weep holes on the waterpump. Use a flashlight and a mirror to inspect them.

If it is the weep holes that are leaking, is there a fix for it?
Are the weep holes under the pump or to the sides?

I believe one is on top and one is bottom. There is no way to fix them other than replacing the water pump.

Nick, check to see if coolent is coming out of the weep holes. My 94 failed at about the same mileage...was weeping out the holes...replaced it and all was good.

Replacement should be simple.

Drain coolant
Remove the drive belt
Remove the waterpump
clean mating surfaces for new gasket
Re-install

question: engine running (does the pump need to turn for it to leak) or will the leak be a constant leak when the engine is off?

Echo SSEI - Does the PS unit need to be moved?

I didn't think so, but let me go check....

<running to the car to check FSM>

OK...according to the '97 FSM, N/A (L36) cars do not need to remove ANY other components. SCed cars are supposed to remove power steering pump and a bunch of other stuff (coil pack, engine mounts, SC belt tensioner, etc.).

Also, there are different torque values on the bolts. The top three and the one under the bottom are 11 lb. ft. The 4 (two on each side) are 22 lb. ft.

Echo - you can TEAR that page out of the 97 FSM (book) and throw it away.

In fact, anyone that has a chiltons manual, go to waterpump removal 96-99 and rip that page out and toss it.

They are both the same and they both forgot to mention the the PS pulley is in the way

I guess I better check the search function and see how others have moved the PS pump out of the way to get to the WP.....

Sorry, nick. Thanks for the info...good to know *makes note in FSM *

I believe the PS pump can be unbolted and just moved aside.