Identifying coolant leak

[nuron]

Lately, my '99 I4 Camry has been losing coolant and I've been trying to find the source. At the last oil change a couple weeks ago, I saw old streaks of coolant running down the front of the oil pan so I followed the trace up to find this:



Close-up:


I think this is the location of my leak but not sure of how to stop it. I've changed the thermostat before but it looks like the leak is coming from that silver pipe--there isn't a seal there, is it? Any advice would be appreciated .

[csaxon]

O-rings and gasket

[nuron]

Is there anything else I should remove besides the two bolts on the side that I see? Do I have to remove the thermostat as well? Thanks for the reply.

[71Corolla]

Seeing you have to drain the coolant, replace the thermostat and gasket at the same time. To replace all the O-rings, the water pump needs to be removed, so start with just the gasket and O-ring on the bypass pipe. There are I believe 2 bolts holding the bypass pipe that will have to be removed to give enough movement.

[Mister_Perkins]

I would remove the Water by-pass hoses from around the filter and move the Coolant lines towards the drivers side.

The other way would be to remove the thermostat / waterpump and timing belt assembly.

[nuron]

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

I would remove the Water by-pass hoses from around the filter and move the Coolant lines towards the drivers side.

The other way would be to remove the thermostat / waterpump and timing belt assembly.

Looks like I'm gonna try to do the first way, the latter is way too involving for my schedule and I don't want to have someone else do it. Hope it's not too difficult...

[Mister_Perkins]

shouldn't be too hard. Theres only a couple nuts holding the whole assembly in place.

[nuron]

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

Seeing you have to drain the coolant, replace the thermostat and gasket at the same time. To replace all the O-rings, the water pump needs to be removed, so start with just the gasket and O-ring on the bypass pipe. There are I believe 2 bolts holding the bypass pipe that will have to be removed to give enough movement.

I've already replaced the thermostat last year when I replaced the radiator. Will removing just the two bolts give me enough room to work and finish up?

[71Corolla]

Originally Posted by nuron

Will removing just the two bolts give me enough room to work and finish up?

Not sure, I think so. You'll know, worst case if you will have to remove some other stuff on the drivers side to give you enough play to get at the O-ring.

[nuron]

Hi guys, back again. It looks like my leak isn't from the spot I originally looked at but rather further up:



Sorry for the weird mirrored picture but you can probably see the pink-ish buildup right under the alternator. I think that is the water pump--is it time to replace it?

Thanks!

[nuron]

Bump...anyone?

[csaxon]

The leak from the water pump weep hole indicates eventual seal failure. I'd get ahead of it and replace it.

[nuron]

Thanks for the confirmation, I'll get it replaced soon

[dave1811]

+ 1 on the Waterpump leaking, sign of problems ahead. While in there, I would at the minimum put in a new timing belt if it hasn't been replaced already, along with the idler bearing, etc. Good luck on it.