2002 Hyundai Santa Fe warped head?

Tiny
LORIJO17
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,000 MILES
My SUV started leaking small amounts of coolant about a month ago. Last week I noticed a great deal of coolant leaking from the water pump area. I drove the SUV several times before taking it to the garage. I engine did heat up above normal but I stopped to let it cool before I moved on. The garage replaced the water pump and timing belt. The mechanic took it for a test drive and said it was ok. I took it home and then to town to do errands and noticed the coolant was leaking out of the same exact area but the engine temperature was remaining constant and at normal levels. Could I have warped the head driving the small amounts that I did, but it was leaking coolant before it ever overheated. Could a warped head cause the gasket seal on the water pump not to seal correctly? There is no water in the oil and the engine is running great. No white smoke or water coming from the exhaust. Maybe the mechanic didnt seal if correctly- I am hoping. I have to wait till mon to take it back. Any thoughts about Heal a Seal? I can't afford thousands of dollars to repair a head. I spent 484 to fix this problem.
Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 9:13 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

I would have the mechanic do a cooling system pressure test first, lest see where the leak is actually coming from first, the only problem with many alloy heads is that they do not take kindly to being over heated, as they do tend to have cracking and warping problem if they get to hot.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 9:23 PM
Tiny
LORIJO17
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
We know the leak was coming from the water pump area. A mechanic said there was nothing else in that area that could leak. I am wondering if the head is warped could it cause the seal on the water pump not to work. Beacause I thought the water pump was connected to the engine block not the head. I hope to god it is not the head cause that is too expensive. Possibility of being a gasket blown between the engine and waterways?
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 9:29 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

A head problem will not make the water pump gasket leak, it this leak is from around the water pump, there may be some old gasket still stuck to the block, if all the old gasket is not removed and a new one fitted over the top this can and will be a cause for it to keep leaking from the same place.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 9:53 PM
Tiny
LORIJO17
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Wow, I talked to another mechanic on a diff site and he said that if the head was warped then the water pump would not seal correctly. I thought that was connected to the block anyway. I dont get it- I get totally diff anwers from mechanics. Maybe coolant leak from a blow head gasket looks like it is coming from the water pump area.
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Friday, September 11th, 2009 AT 10:00 PM

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