Had to get the AA out last wednesday returning from work as my car decided to spill all of its coolant. I've only just been able to get round to finding the leak.

 

There felt like a tiny leak around a small hose above the water pump but didn't seem like it would cause the amount of fluid collecting on the under tray.

 

Bearing in mind the car hadn't been started since Wednesday and I tried filling the radiator up without running the engine, would coolant leak from the small pipes from the heads or water pump from just filling up the system? Seems like something has ruptured badly!

try removing the large pipe from the top of the rad, check the plastic hasnt corroded and is squirting water, i had this happen to two rads and both squirted water to the water pump area and made it look like it was the pump

I've checked around the radiator area and it is dry. Its directly on the front of the engine somewhere and leaks when the engine isn't running. Can the water pump leak whilst filling up the rad?

i would still remove it first mate, or fill it uo and get it pressured up and see if you can see where it is leaking, does it leak when you fill it up and is just cold??

yes it leaks when cold filling it back up, its a fairly major leak. It just seemed to suddenly go on the A27 and it was pissing down with rain! :mad:

and it comes from the water pump area then, if so then its a fairly big job as you have to remove the timing belt, you may aswell do a full serviec whilst on

This is commonly caused by a split in one of the two stubby water pipes which connect the top water pipe to the block. Bit of info and a diagram in this thread

 

HTH

 

Steve :)

Awesome guys, thanks! Looks like i'll be doing its 120000 mile service early then