Looking for some advice before heading to a garage.

I have a coolant leak which appears to be from just underneath the alternator - is that the water pump?

There are dried up greenish splash marks on the passenger side of the sump, and when I stop the car after a run the coolant is dropping on to the ground from that area - not very much - but enough to make the reservoir go from max to below min in a couple of days.

Any thoughts? The way the splash marks are make me think it's only happening when at quite high pressure.

Any help much appreciated.

Alistair

 

Could be spraying from the lower hose or the rad itself.

Can you get it hot and than watch?

Dont forget the rad fans will blow coolant all over the place.

Depends on the coolant, but you could add fluorescent dye to it and get a UV lamp on it to assist.

Water pump is a pig to fix, rad is very easy.
Lower (and top) hose can split at the hose clamp -where it exits the rad or pump/block areas.

Good luck, and report back

 

Could it be the air con coolant?

 

PM coolchrisuk...he has gained some knowledge of coolant leaks recently

 

why yes, I have! Not quite the same situation though. I changed my hoses and used Mikalor clips on them. Fine at all points bar connection to thermostat, too wide to clamp properly. Anyway, exactly the same description of dripping from that area. Best to jack up the car and have a look underneath, follow the bottomrad hose back to the engine. This is where it meets your thermostat housing ( heldonby two bolts) get the engine up to temp if needs be to determine the leak. Could be a worn thermostat gasket/seal, a cracked thermostat housing or as already a mentioned a split in your hose.

Easy enough job to empty the coolant, remove thermostat to inspect everything and refill/bleed as necessary. Plenty of how to's on here. Good luck!

 

Thanks folks - great advice as always!

Let's hope it's not the water pump then

Will run it up to temp this morning and get under it with my wet suit on. Watch this space

Cheers

 

UPDATE:

Been under the car and doesn't look good. It would appear the coolant is leaking from the top of the sump - even coming out of the edges of the bolts that hold the sump on.

Water pump?

I have a fear this is going to be expensive. Any advice appreciated.

 

The water must be running down on to sump, get any pics?

 

If the sump is wet, it'll definitely be the waterpump. This is a classic sign of waterpump failure on MX5s, and their engines have a similar layout.

It can be DIY'd...but will mean the head needs to be removed, along with the inlet manifold...which is a pain. The head gasket therefore needs changing as well.

You may want to think about doing the timing chain too. Whilst this is not a service item, and it doesn't expire at XXX miles, it is a good opportunity to replace. Speak to kawasakiVTEC for further ideas on what is good to replace. This may sound expensive, but it is worth spending the money now, to save in the long run.

HTH

 

Sod that, get the Radweld in there and flog it to a garage.
Head off job will cost you about £800.