Coolant leak at the front of motor

[jmichalicek]

Well, it's been awhile since I've been here, but my car is borked. I've got a 1999 Cobra with about 60k miles on it. Today when I went to go to work I got the low coolant light, checked and had very little coolant in the reservoir. I added more, drove to work and back home, checked and my reservoir was still full, but I've got coolant all over the front bottom of the motor and the front sway bar. I suck when it comes to mechanical type things, so I'll be taking her in somewhere this weekend. Any ideas as to what the likely culprit is? How much am I looking at probably spending? Is the car safe to continue driving for the rest of the week? Until I've actually got the money to properly fix it?

 

[CanadaStang]

Sounds like your water pump is toast. It's not very hard to change, so even if you take it to a garage it shouldn't cost too much. I wouldn't advise driving it, over heating an engine is VERY BAD!!!!!

 

[Dan_Soprano]

Well, it's been awhile since I've been here, but my car is borked. I've got a 1999 Cobra with about 60k miles on it. Today when I went to go to work I got the low coolant light, checked and had very little coolant in the reservoir. I added more, drove to work and back home, checked and my reservoir was still full, but I've got coolant all over the front bottom of the motor and the front sway bar. I suck when it comes to mechanical type things, so I'll be taking her in somewhere this weekend. Any ideas as to what the likely culprit is? How much am I looking at probably spending? Is the car safe to continue driving for the rest of the week? Until I've actually got the money to properly fix it?

yup. sounds like a water pump. did you check the t-stat housing on the driver's side front bottom of the engine bay yet?

 

[CanadaStang]

Well, it's been awhile since I've been here, but my car is borked. I've got a 1999 Cobra with about 60k miles on it. Today when I went to go to work I got the low coolant light, checked and had very little coolant in the reservoir. I added more, drove to work and back home, checked and my reservoir was still full, but I've got coolant all over the front bottom of the motor and the front sway bar. I suck when it comes to mechanical type things, so I'll be taking her in somewhere this weekend. Any ideas as to what the likely culprit is? How much am I looking at probably spending? Is the car safe to continue driving for the rest of the week? Until I've actually got the money to properly fix it?

Yeesh, that sounds very very serious!!! I suppose could help you out by taking that car off your hands for say..... $4000.00

Ok fine Just scooch under the car with a flash light and look up at the bottom of the water pump, there will be a little weep hole, you should be able to see if water has been dribbling out of it. If it wet, then it's toast.

 

[jmichalicek]

Thanks guys, not as bad as I was thinking it would be if you're right.

As far as the t-stat housing, not yet, I didn't even think to have a look at that. I'll climb under there after work tomorrow (I'll just steal my fiance's car for now) and have a look at that and the hole for hte water pump.

 

[CanadaStang]

Yip, not to worry, you'll have 'er up and running in no time