Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Leaking water pump?

Well I have a coolant leak. The question is where. I find drops under the passanger side but because the way it runs off I can't locate the leak directly. I have not found a leak from the hoses so here is the question. Can we have a leak from the water pump? In other words can it leak on the pulley side? It appears that it might be only under preassure that it leaks.

I replaced the water pump when the timming belt was replaced about 10K ago.

Help me out here if you can.

Thanks,
Jon

It could be the gasket on it. First, try checking all of the connections and clamps on your hoses.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'm trying to check the connections but can't tell for certain where the leak is. Do you think that it is unlikely that the pump is leaking. It was installed by a Ford dealer and I have faith that it was done right based on the other work they have done for me.

Anyone know of a common place the Zetec leaks coolant on the Pass. side?

I can not remember exactly, but seeing that the WP is in behind the timing belt covers, I remember seeing a tube like thing casted into the WP housing so that if the seal starts leaking in the WP, as mine was, I believe the water/coolant comes out to the rear side of the timing covers. I was using some coolant, but could not find the leak, then one afternoon after a drive to town and back, I looked underneith and it was raining fairly good. When I changed the WP, I saw that casted in passage for leakage. Keeps the timing belt dry.

Well the real test was viewing it with the engine running. I could clearly see the coolant coming out the water pump. After reviewing my Haynes manual you are correct about the leak from the w/p. Apparently when it goes bad then it defaults to leak out a special hole.

Has anyone else ever changed their own water pump? Any help would be great. Currently, I can not afford to pay someone to fix it this time.

i have had 5 water pumps in 7 months... i got it replaced at a local shop... the first 3 were direct from ford... the other 2 were nonames... the shop i go to has been realy good about replaceing them. the first time they changed it they did a fluch at the same time... the seccond time they did a fluch filed it ran it till it got warmed up then did another flush and still problems... they still are unabele to figure out why i am going throw so many. good thing for there warrenty. its 1 year/ 20,000 km and they reset the warrenty every time its changed.. (unlike ford whoes warrenties start on the date of the first instlation)

I searched and found that you have a 98....Advantage! The Haynes manual is rather simple to follow. Just use that. And call Bill Jenkins, he's the cheapest.
Also, You'll need an offset 10mm.
I did mine this year and it was simple. Don't forget to do a

coolant flush

Any is ready and willing

my pre 98 didn't have the water pump mounted externally.

Here is where I am now. I needed a 10mm offset wrench to remove the pulley. Now the pump is removed but I can't seem to get it out of the engine bay. Haynes isn't any help here. Anybody elese run it to this?

Help please!