I have a coolant leak at the front of the oil pan where the front engine mount bracket is. It seems to be coming from between the two.

Is this the dreaded water pump? Do I wish I had done the water pump when I did the timing belt two years ago? I have a 2001 1.8t with 160,000 miles and the water pump is original.

Could it be anything else? I have looked all I can without putting it in "service position." If I get in there, is there a "weep hole" like on other cars? Any other advice?

Thanks,

John

 

Yes, it was the water pump. There are streaks of coolant in the timing belt region.

It's a good thing I enjoy working on cars!

 

Ouch. I feel for you not doing the water pump when you did the timing belt. You were about 14 bolts away from getting the water pump off when the timing belt was off. You'll be wishing you installed a new pump once you get started on it!

Good luck!

EDIT: ...About 14 bolts on a 2.7T, that is. A little different on your engine.

 

It's THREE bolts and maybe $40 on the 1.8t! My "thinking" if you can call it that was that I did not want to mess around with draining the coolant!! The timing belt was frustrating the first time, as noted in my post elsewhere. Oh, well, live and learn.