I am now paranoid about my water pump :(

I parked up in Sainbury's car park after doing some spirited driving and went in to Sainburys for about 10 minutes.

 

When I got back to the car I noticed the small puddle running away from under the nose of the car.

"Oh well I though, If I worried about the car everytime I parked on someones elses puddle of oil and water that I didn't notice when I left the car I would be in a looney bin by now!"

 

 

So I rolled the car back a space anyway, and noticed a very small trail of water that had followed the car.

I looked under the engine and I couldn't see anything dripping out but it looked a little wet under the drivers side of the engine.

Whilst I was looking under the car a woman came up to me and asked if I wanted any water, I said I didn't think it was leaking badly so I'll crawl it home and check there.

She said, becareful cos it looks like your waterpump has gone like mine did and it wrecked my engine!

I said thanks for her offer of help and advice, got back in my car and started to drive off.

 

Then a girl came up to me and stopped me, she had been sat in her car a couple of spaces away.

The conversation that followed was like this:

"Hello, how old is your Nissan...It is a Nissan isn't it?"

"Yes, Nine years old, why?"

"Well it looks like your water pump has given up, my Mum's Nissan did that when it was 9 years old and she drove it and wrecked the engine!"

(I'm sure she didn't hear what the other woman said to me!)

"Oh that's a pisser, cos it's not cheap to fix on this if it is the water pump, (Not having a clue, but just guessing as with all things Zed it's going to be expensive and it's probably an engine out job.)

 

After being compleatley paranoid and driving home slower than Miss Daisy, the temperature gauge never moved above halfway, so water temp seemed fine.

It's hasn't seemed to leak since it's been parked in the drive, but it still looks a little wet on the chassis under the drivers side of the engine.

 

Does it sound like these two women know more about this car than me? (Not hard to believe ;) )

If it is the water pump, how many kidneys/eyes/lungs will I have to sell to replace it?

 

Sorry for the long post but it was a quite strange incident.

When COLD check water levels, with the level thingy on the bottle and take off rad cap. See if u can see the water level and/or top up there, see how much it takes. Do again tomorrow and see if you can keep adding lots everyday.

 

It could just be your aircon working, they will drip alot of water.

I'll keep an eye on the water levels thanks, It's not the aircon, well not from use anyway, because it's never used by me.

Eric, when my pump went it was unmistakable - all the (green) coolant piddled out all down the road , car park etc.

 

Received wisdom is that the water pump should be replaced at the same time as timing belts.

 

(eg when I bought mine, had the timing belt done and three days later the water pump went blooie).

 

Is your leak green coolant or clear water (if you don't mind me getting personal :D )?

 

Cheers - Gio

LOL

It's a creamy white colour.....

Oh sorry wrong leak! ;)

 

It seemed clear.

Eric, have you got the plastic undertray on yours, mine has and it made it very difficult for me to trace the leak as i only thought it did it from time to time, but i now believe that the tray cought the water, then if i parked on a bit of a slope a leak appeared.

 

I decided to replace my water pump, thermostat, and them two little rubber hoses that attach to the back of the metal coolant pipes.

 

Ive now got the pump out, and it seems there is nothing wrong with it, the only odd things i discovered is the new pump came with a gasket, wheras the old one had only been put in with liquid gasket, which appears to have come away on the lower half of the pump, thus causing a tiny leak.

 

The only way i could see mine leak was to rev it to about 5 grand and a few squirts would come out, ticking over it didnt leak, but when i shut it off, go back to it half hour later and sometimes there would be a puddle under it.

 

If you decide to replace stuff like the water pump and stat and those pipes, TAKE IT TO A GARAGE, its not a job for the faint hearted believe me.

 

See pic below.

 

And good luck!

Cheers mate,

There is way too much engine missing in that picture for me to even think about replacing it myself! ;)

 

It's possible that I have the same problem, I'll rev it tonight and see if any leaks out.

I don't know if I have the plastic undertray, I'll tey and have a look after work tonight.

 

*Seriously hopes the water pump isn't going wrong* :(