ok i got a pretty dire water leak (325i) its dripping from the front RH corner of the engine, under the oil cooler pipes but seems to be coming from higher up.
water pump gasket?
any ideas as its a drip every two seconds at the moment!!
water leak - but where it coming from?!
Moderator: martauto
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Taylor325i
- E30 Zone Camper
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. Brilliant Red Tech II 325i.
Either the water pump gasket or the bottom radiator hose, but it could also be coming from any one of the hoses on the top of the engine or the thermostat gasket and running down the front of the engine before it drips. At least if it's a drip every 2 secs then it shouldn't be too hard to spot where it's coming from.
Taylor.
Taylor.
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ollielsd
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:00 pm
as far as i can see all hoses are tight and dry as is thermo housing, guess that leaves waterpump gasket - is it a complete bitch to change?
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Taylor325i
- E30 Zone Camper
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. Brilliant Red Tech II 325i.
In a word - Yes. lol
It's not too bad a job actually it's more awkward than any thing else. I'll try and do a step by step for you.
Drain cooling system
Remove front centre grill
Remove fan blades
Remove fan belt and power steering belt
Remove the metal water pipe from the front of the engine
Remove the hose from the water pump
Remove 4x 10mm bolts that secure the pulley to the water pump (this will give better access to the 3x13mm bolts that hold the pump to the block)
Remove 3x 13mm bolts ( you might need a universal joint adaptor on your 13mm socket for one of the bolts)
The pump should be able to be removed now
Clean the remains of the old gasket from the pump and the block
Now the fun begins
Line up the gasket with the holes while at the same time insert the little pin with the spring on it (the one that sprung out when you removed the pump and thought "where the feck did that come from") and also try and get the first bolt started on the thread.
After the first bolt is in it's a piece of p1ss.
Refit all parts in the reverse of removal
Fill cooling system and bleed.
Guys feel free to add anything that I've missed.
Taylor.
Taylor.
It's not too bad a job actually it's more awkward than any thing else. I'll try and do a step by step for you.
Drain cooling system
Remove front centre grill
Remove fan blades
Remove fan belt and power steering belt
Remove the metal water pipe from the front of the engine
Remove the hose from the water pump
Remove 4x 10mm bolts that secure the pulley to the water pump (this will give better access to the 3x13mm bolts that hold the pump to the block)
Remove 3x 13mm bolts ( you might need a universal joint adaptor on your 13mm socket for one of the bolts)
The pump should be able to be removed now
Clean the remains of the old gasket from the pump and the block
Now the fun begins
Line up the gasket with the holes while at the same time insert the little pin with the spring on it (the one that sprung out when you removed the pump and thought "where the feck did that come from") and also try and get the first bolt started on the thread.
After the first bolt is in it's a piece of p1ss.
Refit all parts in the reverse of removal
Fill cooling system and bleed.
Guys feel free to add anything that I've missed.
Taylor.
Taylor.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
If the car is any way near needing a cambelt change, do that as well.
That way you don't have to fight the spring.
That way you don't have to fight the spring.
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ollielsd
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:00 pm
cheers boys!! looks like a busy pre leman weekend for me then!!
exlain the spring pls? what does it do> i might stick a belt in it while im there actually - im guessing its only the covers i need to take off whilst im in there??
exlain the spring pls? what does it do> i might stick a belt in it while im there actually - im guessing its only the covers i need to take off whilst im in there??
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Spring sets the initial tension for the cambelt. Once the belt is fitted it doesn't do anything at all!
Take the old belt and tension er off, change water pump, fit new belt and new tension er.
Possible problems arise when refilling the car with coolant in the form of an airlock.
Have the car nose uphill if possible. have heater to full hot, fan on 2 or 3, start engine and watch temperature gauge, while checking the output from the heater. If it doesn't start blowing warm air in a minute or so, you have an airlock, and are heading straight towards a cracked head if you don't switch off and clear it.
Take the old belt and tension er off, change water pump, fit new belt and new tension er.
Possible problems arise when refilling the car with coolant in the form of an airlock.
Have the car nose uphill if possible. have heater to full hot, fan on 2 or 3, start engine and watch temperature gauge, while checking the output from the heater. If it doesn't start blowing warm air in a minute or so, you have an airlock, and are heading straight towards a cracked head if you don't switch off and clear it.
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ollielsd
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:00 pm
ok mate cheers, il get the belt and tensioner and do it all when im in there