coolant leaking from a small hole at the bottom of the water pump?

[TC]

I was just filling up the car with coolant after an engine rebuild.
There is coolent leeking from a small hole at the bottom of the water pump? Any one know what this is.
Is it a drain hole or something? How do i solve?

[MartG]

It called a weep hole, and water coming out of it indicates the pump seal has failed. Time for a new pump

[BIGBOBO]

When you get a new waterpump, be sure to get some new O-rings from mr-T (not supplied with generic water pumps).

[MartG]

You only need new O rings if you're renewing the entire pump - for a leaky seal you only need to replace the front half

[BIGBOBO]

You only need new O rings if you're renewing the entire pump - for a leaky seal you only need to replace the front half

Partly true.

The bolts that hold the front part on also hold the back half to the engine block. So if you replace the front half it automaticaly comes loose.

I didn't bother to replace it and the O-ring between the block and water pump started leaking. Had to do it all again. The other O-ring shouldn't be a problem.

[TC]

Would a MK1b water pump be ok to fit onto a MK1a engine If so, will save me sourcing a new one

[MartG]

You only need new O rings if you're renewing the entire pump - for a leaky seal you only need to replace the front half

Partly true.

The bolts that hold the front part on also hold the back half to the engine block. So if you replace the front half it automaticaly comes loose.

I didn't bother to replace it and the O-ring between the block and water pump started leaking. Had to do it all again. The other O-ring shouldn't be a problem.

None of the 3 I've done had a problem

[Dan88]

is water pump replacememnt a difficult job?

[MartG]

Fiddly due to restricted space ( take the side panel off for better access ), and it helps if you take the timing belt off to get at the pump

[BIGBOBO]

is water pump replacememnt a difficult job?

It's the first "real" work I did on my car. I had zero experience.

Took me one night to get the part of and another one to put the new waterpump on.

Then it decided to leak and I had to do it all over again (this time replacing the O-rings) and that took another night.

[Dan88]

ahh ok, thanks for that. Would be handy if i didnt have to take the timing belt off for obvious reasons though. I might have to be attempting this as i have over heating problems, so water pump is my next thing to replace. Wheres the best place to buy one from, Mr T?

[BIGBOBO]

ahh ok, thanks for that. Would be handy if i didnt have to take the timing belt off for obvious reasons though. I might have to be attempting this as i have over heating problems, so water pump is my next thing to replace. Wheres the best place to buy one from, Mr T?

You can get it as a generic part from a car-shop. I paid 55€ for mine. Mr T sells them for 70 or 80€ IIRC. They were virtually identical.

I strongly advise to change the O-rings and if needed the bolts.

[crazylegs]

go to your local motor factor, i too would change the whole thing and do the timimg belt at the same time then its sorted for another 50k mls. pm if you get cold feet.