Coolant leak

[L3V3L1]

While out on a short drive today, I noticed smoke from the engine bay in the rear view. I quickly pulled over and shut the car off. I saw a pretty substantial coolant leak from below the water pump. I let the car cool a few minutes and added water to the reservoir in an attempt to drive the car home. I couldn't get the car started again, and ended up having it towed to a nearby mechanic, for him to look at on Monday. Any idea on what would cause the no start?
Thanks.

[seventy4burban]

Water pump or valley of death hoses behind the water pump.....intake needs to come off and a minimum

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[seventy4burban]

As at far as the no start, not sure ,

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[glockworks21]

did it overheat when all this happened?

[L3V3L1]

did it overheat when all this happened?

No, I pulled over and turned it off before it could overheat.

[glockworks21]

Keep us updated..... You check any fuses before it was towed? Number 7 failed me in similar situation..

[L3V3L1]

Keep us updated..... You check any fuses before it was towed? Number 7 failed me in similar situation..
A wire from the ballast shorted out, either from the coolant all over the engine bay, or maybe from wiping it down? Anyway the intake manifold is just about out, waiting for the new water pump kit tomorrow. The water pump only lasted about 5k miles and seven years. It was pouring coolant from the weep hole.

[Rich]

A wire from the ballast shorted out, either from the coolant all over the engine bay, or maybe from wiping it down? Anyway the intake manifold is just about out, waiting for the new water pump kit tomorrow. The water pump only lasted about 5k miles and seven years. It was pouring coolant from the weep hole.

Thanks for completing the story as far as the diagnosis goes.

That's a sad story. There are knockoff PRV water pumps that don't last very long - maybe that explains the early failure.

Do you know where your failed one came from? I recall hearing from Rob Grady about 10yrs ago that the reproduction pumps made in Europe (Italy?) were the best since all the NOS pumps are gone or in private hands. He said stay away from the ones made in China.

The one (made in Europe) Rob put on my car has lasted 20K miles and 8 years - no noises, no leaks so far.

Things may have changed since then. Before you buy a replacement talk to one or more vendors about the ones they sell now. I have no current vendor recommendation for this part.

[JohnZ]

Good to hear that the culprit was found and it was a simple fix!

I'm still rocking the original water pump... that is a kind of a phantom menace looming on me! I hope it won't fail when I'm on a long trip, and especially I hope that I can see some telltale signs BEFORE it fails completely! Do these things generally last long? well... until they break!

:)

[Bitsyncmaster]

Good to hear that the culprit was found and it was a simple fix!

I'm still rocking the original water pump... that is a kind of a phantom menace looming on me! I hope it won't fail when I'm on a long trip, and especially I hope that I can see some telltale signs BEFORE it fails completely! Do these things generally last long? well... until they break!

:)

I'm also still running original pump. I figured most water pumps go 100K miles so why chance a cheap new one that may fail in 5 K miles.

[L3V3L1]

Thanks for completing the story as far as the diagnosis goes.

That's a sad story. There are knockoff PRV water pumps that don't last very long - maybe that explains the early failure.

Do you know where your failed one came from? I recall hearing from Rob Grady about 10yrs ago that the reproduction pumps made in Europe (Italy?) were the best since all the NOS pumps are gone or in private hands. He said stay away from the ones made in China.

The one (made in Europe) Rob put on my car has lasted 20K miles and 8 years - no noises, no leaks so far.

Things may have changed since then. Before you buy a replacement talk to one or more vendors about the ones they sell now. I have no current vendor recommendation for this part.
Rob actually put mine in as well. My local mechanic is pulling it now and I assume I just got unlucky, with a bad
pump.

[ssdelorean]

Good to hear that the culprit was found and it was a simple fix!

I'm still rocking the original water pump... that is a kind of a phantom menace looming on me! I hope it won't fail when I'm on a long trip, and especially I hope that I can see some telltale signs BEFORE it fails completely! Do these things generally last long? well... until they break!

:)

Amazing your still rock'n it! Huzzah!

I'm on my 3rd or 4th. I will have to check my records to confirm milage gotten from each one. My first one was making noise one weekend on a 400 mile trip. It froze up 60 miles from home. My second one was leaking out of the weep hole. Not bad, but getting worse, I swapped it before it could leave me stranded.