1997 Dodge Avenger Antifreeze leak

Tiny
MYAVENGER
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 DODGE AVENGER
  • 2.5L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 91,920 MILES
Hello I asked a? About my 97 avenger a few days ago about it leaking where the crankshaft/ pully is. I just did a cooling system pressure check and then I noticed leaking at the water outlet. So I went ahead and took the lower radiator hose off and as I took the hose off I noticed around the end of the water outlet had some corrosion on it so I took it as this had been leaking all this time but I don't understand why it was leaking from the crankshaft pully in the first place. After I check the pressure twice to make sure it was diffently the water outlet I proceeded to the next step replacing the water outlet. Oh when I checked the pressure did not leak from the crankshaft pully but from the water outlet. And two when I pulled the water outlet I noticed there was no gasket so I guess that's why it was leaking. So my? Is how would it leak from the crankshaft pully and end up leaking from the water outlet?
Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 12:08 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Maybe the coolant was running down water outlet to the pulley?I wasnt there to see it. But I have never seen a coolant leak change its mind about where it was leaking.I have fixed a coolant leak then found another one.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 12:19 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
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  • 10 POSTS
It is kinda weird how it started out leaking then when did the pressure test it leaked from the water outlet and didn't leak near the crankshaft pully so do I go ahead and assume the leak is still there or go ahead and fix the leaking water outlet?
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 12:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Here is another possibility the water pump is leaking behind the timing belt cover and the coolant is leakiing out of where the crankshaft pulley is?
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I was thinking the same cause after doing another test it started leaking down pretty good at the crankshaft pulley so I determined a bad water pump so went ahead and got the waterpump & timing belt. Do u recommend replacing the oil seals since I have all this apart
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I recommend replacing the whole timing kit water pump timing belt idler and tenisor thats what I always replace when I do the timing belt or water pump.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 3:03 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Have another? How do I get the crankshaft pully off my 97 avenger it's the 2.5 liter v6 engine. I see the center bolt to remove but there's no we're to put some sort of bar or something to weg to get the crankshaft off? So how do I get it off?
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 7:44 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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In my online repair info it just says remove the balancer doesnt say how.I would use a impact gun myself to remove the bolt and a puller to remove the balancer.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2014 AT 10:07 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
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  • 10 POSTS
I need some help I have done put on my new water pump and timing belt in my 97 dodge avenger 2.5 liter v6 and I need to know do I put the timing belt tensioner on before or after I put the timing belt on?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2014 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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I would put on the tenisor last that's what I always do then when everything is lined up I pull the tenisor pin.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2014 AT 5:28 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Ok thanks I also need to know do I need to loosen the tensioner puller in order to get the timing belt on? So It's best to put the belt on first then the timing belt tensioner?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2014 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Put the belt on then install the tenisor pulley then install the tenisor itself in that order. Make sure everything is lined up then pull the pin on the tenisor. Then turn the engine over by hand a couple of times and make sure the marks are still lined up.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2014 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
  • MEMBER
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I just finished up installing my water pump & timing belt. Now I'm stuck on how to tighten the crankshaft pully center bolt. I loosen it up by putting a breaker bar long enough to it touched the floor and cranked the engine for a sec and it loosened it up to where I could take it out by hand. My? Is how would I go by tightening back up so I can torque it 134 ft ibs? Can I do the same procedure by putting the breaker bar the other direction touching the floor and cranking it up or would that destroy the bolt need help figuring this out. P.S. My compressor went out on me the other day dummer. Any suggestions.
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Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Your air compressor for compressed air went out on you?The motor or the compressor?I wouldnt use the starter to tighten it no way.I wouldnt even use the starter to loosen it as far as tightening it goes you could get a big strap wrench to hold the pulley one with a long handle.
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Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
MYAVENGER
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
What is the correct way to burp the cooling system step by step and two if not done the right way can the antifreeze leak?
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 AT 9:21 PM

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