I think my water pump is out

Drove up to Kohl's this morning and when I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a lot of steam coming from under the car like a hose had blown. Lifted the hood and couldn't find and blown hoses. The reservoir was bone dry(my intercooler is tapped into as well) but the fluid looked like it was leaking from underneath the plastic cover under the engine. I filled up the reservior and called the wife. I was able to drive about a 1/2 mile before the temp stated climbing quickly and again more steam. Pulled over and the reservior was still full and the leak wasn't quite as bad. We ended up towing her home.

I'm guessing this is the water pump, anyway to comfirm this?

I know it's a good idea to do the timing belt change as well while you are in there. Any ideas on the cost for this? I trust Trackdog but it's gonna suck towing it all the way from McKinney.

******UPDATE*******

Went to check it out at half time, had the wife pour water into the radiator while I climbed underneath. When she filled, water just poured onto the garage floor from behind the tranny area. I went back under the hood and the water is pouring from a busted hose on the drivers side. The hose runs from the firewall into the engine. I can see the hose clamp at the top but the one at the engine looks the be a mother to get to. Any tricks to to getting to it?

Cuss,......a lot! ;)

Cut your old hose off, don't try and remove it the brass tubes are easy to distort.

Like this?
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7...erhoses5sn.jpg

The on on the left goes here:
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4...nerear22ac.jpg

Yeah i figured some cussing was in order! LOL

So are you saying to back the clamp off and then cut the hose off?

[QUOTE=wrx74;228142]Like this?
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7...erhoses5sn.jpg

The on on the left goes here:
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4...nerear22ac.jpg
That is exactly correct.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by titanescape

So are you saying to back the clamp off and then cut the hose off?

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I cut the hose before the clamp, remove the clamp, then cut the remainder from the tube.

but how do you get the clamp on the engine side?

BTDT.

Check the "O" ring on the CAS. My heater hose got soft because it was soaked with engine oil that leaked passed the bad "O" ring.

That's the clamp below the coil pack:
Attachment 4820

From below the heater hoses I can see that clamp and can use needle nose pliers to remove and install the clamp (install engine end first):
Attachment 4821

Got the hose changed last night, my hand is scratched all to hell and sore as can be. Everything seemed ok..no leaks or anything like that.

Drove to work this morning and car is running fine, no temp issues. However there seems to be some steam coming out of the defrost vent(especially when sitting still). Also I can smell coolant. I'm wondering if this is excess moisture drying off or did I miss something? :confused:

It could be burn off but it sounds like the heater core is leaking. May want to give it a couple of days to see if it goes away.

There are 2 ways to replace the heater core. One requires removal of the dash. The other requires cutting one of the tubes on the new heater core and a short bit of rubber hose. I chose to remove the dash. Its not complitcated, just labour intensive. Helps to put the top down too.

I found directions for both on the pointy board.

Went out to the car and pulled the mat back on the drivers side..the carpet is wet and yes the smell and slickness of coolant. So does that confirm the heater core?

Go to Autozone and get the pressure tester they offer in the Loan-a-tool program. That is the best way I have found to verify a leak.

More - http://www.dfwmiata.com/showthread.p...=pressure+test

Is it possible to just bypass the heater core by connecting the In and out hoses together? I need to rig something till the weekend and I won't need a heater for the next few days.

yes.

I was just going to use some hose and u shaped copper pipe to bypass the heater core completely. Is this a workable solution?

As long as you don't mind freezing your ballz off it's a workable solution. ;)

You sure it is leaking or is that the residual antifreeze from when the hose blew out??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

You sure it is leaking or is that the residual antifreeze from when the hose blew out??

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This is why I said he may want to wait a few days to see if it goes away.

LOL Trickyrix, I plan on replacing it while I'm off next week but I have to drive it to work this week.

POS, totally sure, no but before I head home I will check my coolant level because it was totally filled last night. My drive to work is only like 15-20 mins but I would think that's long enough to burn off the residual. I didn't even check the carpet for wetness last night. When I get to the house later, I will give it a real good look. I just need to make sure I have plan to get me to work tomorrow.

BTW..what kind of cost am I looking at for a Heater Core?

Ok, just went outside and checked my coolant, radiator is very low again. I checked the repaired hose and no leaks there. The only wet spot is under the mat, drivers side.

Heater core. Take the side cover off of it and check for a leak. I did mine without removing the dash. Got my replacement from Mazda-Nissan Heaven for a good price.