MartinH

Keep an eye on the front of your V6 oil pan. If it starts getting pink from leaking coolant, suspect a failing water pump. Hopefully you will catch it before it totally seizes like mine just did and resulted in blowing a head gasket (water out the exhaust)! Fortunately the heads weren't warped. Spent the last 2 weeks lazily repairing and took the opportunity to remove 2 dead mice c/w nest from the intake manifold, replace all vacuum hoses and coolant hoses (they needed to be put to rest after 10 years of service) plus the usual belts, tensioners and seals. Biggest problem was remembering where all the wires and hoses attached!

GPJ

I have pink coolant on the front bottom center of my 12V oil pan. It accumulates in the belly pan and then leaks out the rear. I looked at every coolant connection and all is tight. I'm suspecting the water pump.

How much time from noticing the leak and the pump seizing? How much fluid were you leaking? Was the pump making noise? Any other advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, GP

Vic995

TB drives the WP on a V-6 right? Shouldn't the valves been hosed-up also?

MartinH

The non tooth side of the belt drives the pump so it does not fail immediately. The belt just slides around the pulley and wears away. I noticed rubber shavings starting to collect so it wasn't far off from being a catastrophe!!!!

MartinH

The symptoms you describe are exactly the same as mine. I first noticed the coolant leak several months before the failure. There was no noise initially but by the time I noticed noise, it was too late and the pump had semi-siezed. It would rotate a bit and then grab, etc. I would recommend you attend to the pump & belt ASAP. In the meantime, keep a close watch on the temp gauge!!!

GPJ

Thanks for your advice!

MartinH

Good Luck!

Vic995

Good to hear that your valves are still in good shape.