Water pump failure - just changed cambelt!!!

[RSM Masser]

Having just changed the cambelt and more recently the starter motor, I was looking forward to getting some of the little jobs done, such as the brake lines, a good under body wash and seal. etc etc.

My dismay at finding a small puddle of coolant under the engine and no sign of any leaking pipes - my initial reaction was I check everything is secure that has been removed recently, to no avail, no sign of wetness anywhere.

Thankfully the inside of the V is dry - what a nightmare to see into but some careful arrangement of pipes and cables makes this just about possible with a torch on one side of the TB and looking through the other.

I topped up the expansion bottle and went for a drive, I still cant find the source of the leak, but noticed some water staining on the sump so assume it is from the front of the engine, if it is not a pipe - which I don't think it is then it is either the manifold leaking (under the air intake) or the dreaded water pump!

Having just changed the cambelt I did check the water pump, no sign of a leak then, it span freely and no movement in the shaft so after less than 1000 miles I would be pretty annoyed if it has failed.

I don't mind doing the work to change it - it is just the PITA to take everything off to find out what exactly the cause is.

 

[jluis]

You should have a trail of green goo dryed up in the engine from where the leak originates.
If it's the pump then you will see that near the crank pulley or the top of he engine sump

 

[conaero]

Change of cam belt puts extra tension on water pump and hence why it's probably this that has failed.

The other area to check is the radiator flanges. Where lazy techs pull it to one side rather than remove it as it should be, the stress of the pipes cracks the flanges then about a month after starts leaking. Seen this so many times on the 3200.