I have a 2004 chevy silverado 1500 with the 5.3 v8 extended cab 8ft bed. I recently developed a small coolant leak and a chirping noise coming from the front right side of the motor. Based on previous vehicles I have a feeling its the water pump going out. But also have read that it may be coolant leaking from the water passage from the intake gasket. Other than leaking and the slight chirp everything else runs fine, temps stay normal. Any expert advice?

Sounds like the water pump to me. Pull the belt and spin the water pump pulley to feel for signs of any resistance. Start the engine (only briefly) with the belt off to see if the chirping goes away.

Put a clean sheet of cardboard under the vehicle to see exactly where the leak is coming from. Is it in the area of the water pump?

Any signs of white smoke in the exhaust?

upper intake has no coolant in it on ls engine.

That, along with the chirp, is why I think it is a water pump.

Thanks for the reply. Thats also what I thought but wasn't positive. Will pull the belt and see what I find. It was puffing black smoke so I switched out one off the o2 sensors and it took care of the black smoke