Strange ratling engine sound, help finding it

[wawa]

There is no mechanic I trust enough around. Beside, the water pump still work good. It's just a bearing and I'm not even sure it's the WP one. My best option, leave it to the professionnel. If something goes bad while driving there, I'll put it on a flat bed.

Later
Chris

[Frodo]

If you're gonna do that, keep alert for leakage of coolant. You can see it and you can smell it. If the WP totally goes, you can end up with little pieces of the impeller blades floating around in the system---not a good thing.

Do you know if/when the pump's been replaced? I don't know what your mileage is, but if it's the original pump it's way past due for changing. (For a 2000 model, that's actually true regardless of your mileage.) If it's not your daily driver and you can get around without it for a spell, you could consider changing it yourself---there's several DIY write-ups on the procedure, and it's a doable thing. I'm far from being a seasoned mechanic, but from what I'm hearing, I'm with SteveTinker---I'm not altogether sure you'll make it 300 km.

[wawa]

The car have nearly 100k mile (158k km) and I dont know if it's ever been change.
DIY, I'm looking at it. It look simple enough, it's just the bleeding part I'm a little affraid of.

But I need to be sure it's the WP, I have change too many good parts before from wrong diagnosis. I'll jack the car and inspect it more from under.

Later
Chris