Coolant leak!

[HEC2907]

I was driving home from work this evening and started hearing a graunching noise and then the coolant light started flashing. As I was determined to get home and the temperature gauge was reading fine I decided to drive the remaining 10 miles home. When I parked up on my drive fluid started streaming out from in front of the rear left wheel. The boot seems to be dry so I have a feeling that the water pump may have gone.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by HEC2907

I was driving home from work this evening and started hearing a graunching noise and then the coolant light started flashing. As I was determined to get home and the temperature gauge was reading fine I decided to drive the remaining 10 miles home. When I parked up on my drive fluid started streaming out from in front of the rear left wheel. The boot seems to be dry so I have a feeling that the water pump may have gone.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Never. Ever.

/S

A million times. Happened to me. No biggy.

Use the search function for the forum. It's been covered so many times... SO MANY TIMES... that you may not receive a prompt response.

Use the search feature. Als... that noise yoou heard??? I wouldn't be driving the car. Sounds like your water pump failed... or you broke your belt. Take a peek.

Welcome to the club.

[78F350]

...started hearing a graunching noise and then the coolant light started flashing...

There are plenty of places where coolant can leak from; coolant cap, hoses, pump, heater core... BUT the only one that will graunch is the pump. There are things that will graunch, but will not leak coolant.

If nothing obvious presented by looking under the car, I'd remove the engine access panel behind the seats and see if the water pump is wonky.

[Rob175]

Also check the coolant expansion tank in the trunk. They are notorious for developing "spider cracks" that only start to leak as the coolant gets hot and the coolant system pressure builds up. When cold the "spider cracks" are almost impossible to detect.

Make sure you remove the truck carpeting completely and if you have a false raised trunk under the carpet make sure you remove that too. You need to get down to the metal trunk bottom. You might find (as I did yrs ago) small pools of coolant sitting there, ready to slosh around and find gaps to drip onto your garage floor.

Long story short, 10 years ago I replaced my then 15 year old coolant tank and water pump once I discovered pooled coolant in the trunk and spots on my garage floor.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by HEC2907

I was driving home from work this evening and started hearing a graunching noise and then the coolant light started flashing. As I was determined to get home and the temperature gauge was reading fine I decided to drive the remaining 10 miles home. When I parked up on my drive fluid started streaming out from in front of the rear left wheel. The boot seems to be dry so I have a feeling that the water pump may have gone.

Has anyone else experienced this?

My 986 had almost identical symptoms. It was the water pump. I replaced the pump and thermostat and had no more leaking -- until the heater core started leaking. When I replaced the heater core I examined all the hoses to forestall additional leaks. So far, so good.