Coolant would start to leak out under the belt

Tiny
ANTIFREAK15
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 BUICK CENTURY
  • 225 MILES
I'm curious what an expert would suggest how I should go about it and what parts I may need. Low budget.

I have a 97 Buick Century and for the past month after driving my car for 10 minutes or more my coolant would start to leak out under the belt. So I was putting water in every time before I'd get into the car. Well on my way to work one day, my engine started running hot, one line above the red it never went into the red but got awfully close. I managed to get to work noticed my engine steaming a bit but I had to get into work so I didn't take a real look at it. Got off work got back to my car and filled it with water.

Was going to check my oil as well so I drove over to Walmart and I checked it in the parking lot it had plenty still and looked fine. So after shopping I took off. On my way back home the engine went back to running hot 2 lines above the red. So I decided I was going to stop in at a friends and let it cool off and get more water. Well I drove a couple miles more and the temp started to drop and stayed at the halfway line. Well right before my turn (right) I felt something only I could describe as my wheel begin to wobble, I get into my turn lane and then as I go to make my turn my power steering was gone, completed the turn and went to speed up and there was nothing, no go, no revving. Pulled over the best I could. As I placed it in park the temp gauge, which remind you was at half, all of a sudden jumped into the red.

Turned off the car got out and the engine was steaming pretty bad. Decided to walk to my friends and let it cool off and attend to it later. Next day I was able to drive it from there to my house (5 miles away) still ran relatively warm and there was a weird noise that had never been there before. Just trying to figure out if it is the water pump, the water pump and other things. Just confused and would like heads up before I go and start anything on it.
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 5:23 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
ANTIFREAK15
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Sorry, it has 225,000 miles roughly on it.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 5:24 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
That sounds like the water pump leaking and you are playing with fire. If you have not damaged the engine, you definitely would sooner or later.

You need to have the leak repaired asap and hope the head gasket had not been damaged.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The leak sounds like a water pump pop the belt off and see if the water pump pulley is loose. Also did your power steering pump start working again?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, August 9th, 2012 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
ANTIFREAK15
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Sorry forgot to mention that yes the power steering did come back. It was just when I went to make that one turn. About an hour after I pulled to the side of the road I started it up again (after the engine tried and tried to start) and pulled it into my friends lot. Then that next morning My dad and I brought it back to our place.
Also, My girlfriends father will be coming over in the morning to help take a look at it and check everything out. Thats why I was hoping to get a response tonight and thank you guys for replying in such a timely manner. I appreciate any and all feedback that has and may yet still come.
I pray that it only will be the water pump :)
I'm gunna cry on the inside if its anything more haha.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, August 10th, 2012 AT 4:16 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Check the crank pulley. Ensure the harmonic balancer is intact.

Good luck
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, August 10th, 2012 AT 7:18 AM
Tiny
ANTIFREAK15
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
So here's an update. We changed the water pump $30 fix. Then after everything set we turned it on and checked to see if anything would happen while idling and in behind the oil dipstick there is a bolt going into the engine where water was leaking and bubbling out from. We put stop leak in and after awhile of it running it stoped leaking but then there was what sounded like water getting onto electrical stuff and a short circuiting noise and there was smoke emitting from under the the heat shield for the exhaust Manifold. The oil looks fine. Just curious if it could be anything else besides a cracked head.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 12th, 2012 AT 2:25 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
That does not sound like a cracked head. It could be oil or coolant getting to the exhaust and after a short while when it dries up, it should be ok, unless you have an oil or coolant leak getting to the exhaust.

Monitor the situation to see if the problem persists and remember to check the coolant level. There could be air in system and it takes some time for the system to self bleed. Turn the heater on so yyou can purge the air in the heater core.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 12th, 2012 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I would never use stop leak in the cooling system or anywhere else it cloggs up other things besides just the leaks like heater cores radiator tubes etc.I would have sealed that bolt up with some permatex ultra grey silcone.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 12th, 2012 AT 3:16 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links