(Home) Coolant leak from water pump, diagnosing

The new towny has a few bugs to sort out. Of prime importance is a water leak I initially put down to an overfilled system. Silly me! It took me an age to find where it is coming from. A drip every second or more when revved, coming of the edge of the sump when viewed from underneath, slows to almost nothing at idle. Leaning in passengers side door, and removing water reservior, I can make out a flow from BEHIND and ABOVE a/c compressor. Cant quite see origin... My uneducated and ignorant guess is frost plug or waterpump???? Not being able to see origin is annoying. I am at a total loss. I think if compressor was not there I could see more. Anyone familiar with this type of leak? Many thanks to everyone who has helped me with much good advice and knowledge. Purchased yesterday, today have sorted: diff oil/ kickdown/fuel mixture/temp sender/ trany oil releveling/ new oil,air, and fuel filters. After years of towny ownership I seem to be doing more than my basic routine servicing, thanks in most part to having a excellent base of information, thankyou to all. David, eventually found temp sender, though being a bit used to seeing them on water inlets, rather than inlet manifolds, I managed to study the layout more comprehensively. My ignorance inadvertantly causing me to learn where some of the bits are. Baptism my fire I think is the phrase.

- (#15247) Frank, 4 Feb 05 04:44

Sounds very simliar to a leak that I cured by changing the water pump.

- (#15247) Dave Mason (Sussex), 4 Feb 05 05:49

Thermostat seal ?

- (#15247) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 4 Feb 05 07:16

...wot Ian says.

- (#15247) david miller, 4 Feb 05 07:29

Yes. This could make sense. The engine runs real cold, sits on "C" at idle, and barely above when driving. Water inlet is behind/above compressor. Does this mean to access thermostat, compressor mount must be loosed off. Can a/c hose/pipe connections be left and comp. just moved to one side? Or, is the compressor drive belt just removed and compressor simply rotated outward? Ta

- (#15247) Frank, 4 Feb 05 13:52

Shouldn't need to do any of that. the thermostat housing/ bottom hose spigot is held on by a couple of 6mm bolts, you should be able to just reach in. A slim extension on your socket wrench will help, and you might want to have a look through the gap in the inner wing, might get a better visual down there...

- (#15247) david miller, 4 Feb 05 16:29

Will remove wheel and do inspection, and post result. Thanks

- (#15247) frank, 4 Feb 05 19:40

I have just changed a water pump on my freinds Townie
We found the leak by removing the ac compressor
when we looked for the leak it was impossible to see until the compressor was removed.
The compressor is held on with three long bolts I found it was not nessesary to de gas the system just push the compressor to one side ( dond forget to unclip the wire to the ac clutch first.)
once the compressor is to one side look up the side of the engine you will see a little hole hopefully it wont be dripping water, if it is then it indicates that the water pump seal has gone and the water pump has to be removed, replaced or repaired I found a new replacement was cheaper than having the old one repaired.
To remove the water pump I would suggest getting hold of 2C engine manual.
Because the water pump is located behind the the timing belts , dont be fooled by the fan in my 2C-T the fan and bearing is not part of the waterpump as in most cars, it is located infront of the timing belt. The waterpump is driven from behind by the timing belt .
Any questions dont hesitate to ask I can email you pics
Kind Regards

Ron Kuiper

- (#15247) Ron Kuiper, 4 Feb 05 21:20

Got a view of that little hole with wheel off via lifted inner wing. It can be sited slightly above a/c belt from forward part of inner wing. It appears to emanate from there. Flow increases dramatically with revs. Water pump anyone? If it was thermostat seal, would the flow be more constant rather than rev dependant. I think it was wishful "yes" on my part to thermostat seal. Bugger. Cambelt replacement sticker indicates cambelt was replaced only 50,000km ago. GGGrrrrrhhhh, previous tight fisted owners!!!

- (#15247) Frank, 4 Feb 05 23:03

Just wanting confirmation regarding water from this hole. Is it only the pump that could do this?

- (#15247) frank, 6 Feb 05 02:14

Well, if it's the water pump bleed hole, it's pretty indicative of a waterpump problem...

- (#15247) david miller, 6 Feb 05 02:37

Surprised this was never mentioned at the onset. Seems rudimentary to my problem leak....Odd to have to pry it out at the end. Thankyou, I will consider advice more seriously

- (#15247) Frank, 7 Feb 05 03:44

I think Ron's revelation about this hole is a surprise to most of us. When I changed my water pump noticed that it had a channel that would carry away any coolant that seeped past the seal but it never occurred to me that this helped with diagnosis.

- (#15247) Dave Mason (Sussex), 7 Feb 05 08:08

I think i hit wrong key

- (#15247) steve, 7 Feb 05 13:59

Pump, 3 oil seals, idler and tensioner pulleys and cam belt all replaced. What a day! Crank pulley bolt was striped and a nightmare to take out. Mechanic spent 3 hours on seals alone. Meanwhile I ran around replacing exhaust manifold as it was cracked. If in auckland nz try Segedins Auto Parts. Water pump $95, can belt $38, 3 oil seals $22, idler and tensioner pulleys $40. This was way cheaper than other suppliers. Got a second hand manifold from Pick a part for $16!

- (#15247) Frank, 8 Feb 05 01:04

I have a 1992 Townace Royal Lounge,and the trouble is that when I try to clean the windscreen,the water is leaking out of the bodywork underneath,adjascent to the centre seats.I can't for the life of me figure out how to get to the root of the problem.Please can anyone help me!!

- (#15247) Dave Cundy, 27 Mar 05 05:47

Dave,
You should have started a new thread as this could have got overlooked.
The interior trim needs to be removed to reveal the washer tank and piping. I suspect it is the tank end as any leak will find it's way to the front of the rear wheels. Hope it is as easy as the pipe end split and come off. Let us know how you get on.

- (#15247) Clive (Bristol), 27 Mar 05 08:00

hello chaps after exhaustive reading on these forums im confused plz guide me?.ok heres my dilema plz excuse my spelling along the way.ive got a townace 4wd 2.0 diesil the problem ive got is water leak / mystery ? when i drive around localy in my home town and surronding areas i loose a liittle water minimal amout just top it up once a week thats ok ?
but if i drive on motorways around 60mph or less boy do i have probs i can do 45 miles then the gauge goes awol straite into the red then when i stop wait for it to cool down then when i refill it i can put in as much as 4 litres of water then after anouther 20 miles does the same again plz plz help with your advise im going out of my head now with worries about cost of it all only had it a year or so thanks in advance nigel.

- (#15247) nigel risk, 27 Mar 05 15:07

What are you confused about? What tests have you done, or have you just read so far?

Leaktest, pressuretest, check of viscous coupling. How old is the rad cap? Is it the correct type? Has the 'stat been tested?

With these busses you gotta spend a little time and money to save money in the long run. And the longer it is before you actually do anything, the more it'll cost you...

- (#15247) david miller, 28 Mar 05 03:20

Just a quick note to Clive in Bristol.You were bang on with your diagnosis,pipe had just popped off.Many thanks.

- (#15247) Dave Cundy, 28 Mar 05 13:07