Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Waterpump Gasket

Hi, I have a 98' Mystique. I installed a new waterpump about a month ago and i've been through 2 gaskets already. I noticed today it is leaking again. Anyone know why this could be?It is leaking from the bottom of the waterpump and all bolts are tight.

did you use any gasket sealer on it?

Yes i did use gasket sealer

My brother had this same problem, well similar problem. We thought the leak was from the bottom water pump, then the casing where the pulley shaft connects, but it was actually a leaking hose connection. Check to see if you can actually see where the leak is coming from.

I'm only ASSUMING you have a V6, because you've gone through 2 gaskets so quickly, and its a 20 minute job on a Duratec, not on a 4 cylinder.

I can also assume, that since you have an early 98, you had waterpump impellar failure (shattered) and you started overheating??

You replaced the impellar half, used a new gasket and everything, right? Well, did you piece together the shattered impellar, so that you could find out you have a piece missing (or two), and that you need to back flush the cooling system to get them out. The leak is probably out of the weep hole of the pump.

BTW: use a white plastic impellar, or metal impellar, not a black one. (My personal vote goes to the white plastic, but that's here nor there..)

I had the same issue with a brand new gasket when I replaced my plastic impeller pump. All I did, since the gasket was brand new, was pull it off and over-do-it with the gasket sealer so that it bulged over the seam...no problems since. I had a tiny leak on the top of the pump...I think it was because the surface was not perfectly flat...had some scratches.