Smells like antifreeze...........

[jchan88]

Hey all!!!
I purchased my 97 d-90 about three months ago and was raving about how wonderful and lucky i am to have a worry free car..Well, I guess i spoke too soon.... While i was driving the d90 today, i smelled antifreeze and didnt think anything of it, until i parked in the garage and the entire engine compartment was smoking and i noticed a drip...no a flowing stream of antifreeze making a nice puddle on the floor. I was too steamed (pun) to look further and was wondering if you D90 gurus know if i messed up the radiator or something came loose for the leak to occur? I apologize, im not mechanically inclined... thx in advance.

[Hans]

Only way to know whats leaking is to find where it's leaking from. Start at the puddle, and go up.
If you're not sure detail wise what's what, take some photos and post them up here and we can try to diagnose further.

-Hans

[TDI Guy]

that usually means a heater core..

[Mike Hippert]

Or if the water pump is on it's way out fluid leaks out of the weep hole onto the fan and it sprays all over the engine. If it was steaming then it's hitting the exhaust, could be dripping out of the overflow tank. Do as Hans said, look to see where it came from and report back.

[waveridin1959]

I just had the same thing happen, but it was the radiator. The A/C fan ended up wearing a tiny whole in the radiator. Take it to any shop and have it pressure tested.

[norros]

Could be a # of things...

I just had it happen and it was the thermostat/temp sender unit leaking a bit... Looked as if everything was leaking.

Don't worry yourself to death just yet, bring it to a garage or even Super-Lube and they'll at least diagnose it for next to nothing...


N

[ripp2002]

Better then smelling like shit or teen spirit. That could get you arrested. Just my useless imput.

Larry

[jchan88]

larry, thanks for the humor....but im stressing that this is going to cost me $$$. anyway is it okay if i fill it up with antifreeze for the time being and drive to my neighborhood mechanic which is about 5 miles away? will i hurt anything or should i get a tow?

[Hans]

5 miles shouldn't be a big deal, but towing is always a safe bet.

Mike was right, steam means it was hitting the exhaust manfold. There are about 8 connections in the hoses between the heater core and the engine, so might just be a bad heater hose or something like that as well. Hoses tend to blow out more in the cold, and you guys have been having a cold spell there, correct?

-Hans

Follow-up Post:

Oh, I forgot to add.

Defenders really should get a flatbed for towing since they are full-time 4wd.

-Hans

[BarryO]

As long as your temp. gauge stayed in normal range, you should not have done any damage.

My Disco had a leaky coolant reservoir once. 'something else to check.

[ripp2002]

Did you manage to see where it is leaking from. Where under the truck. Front of the engine capartment, left, right side?

Larry

[bjenk]

I am in morrison and could swing by and take a look at it. Let me know.
brian
720-219-2288

[jchan88]

hey brian.....is it too late to give u a call today?

[jchan88]

I wanted to thank brian again for coming down and taking a look at my 90. It was determined that it was leaking from the top seal of the water pump. I will take pictures tomorrow, but does this sound like the pump is going out or is it just a gasket thing?....

[Davis]

There is a hole under the output shaft of the water pump that the fan is connected to. Usually this is where it will leak from if the fan fails--it is actually designed to do that. If it is leaking from the seal between the pump and the front cover, it is probably not a big deal--just get a new gasket and redo it or use something like rightstuff.

[Buckon37s]

just replace the pump. They are cheap, and it is a smart move with that engine.

[Mike Hippert]

I agree with Dave, unless the pump is new, if you are going to do all the work to remove it and replace the gasket then I would put a new pump on, you can get them for around $100 or so.

[norros]

Mike Hippert & James Chan & anyone:

While I was replacing the starter, I noticed that a coolant leak had started, I originally thought it was a hose but it's not... Had a friend (who's not really familiar with LR's but knowledgeable) look at it and he said it was the water pump.

So, James... Do you have those pics you stated in your earlier post ? or does anyone ? I'm going to try and take pictures but I'm at work and don't have a camera.

I'm not 100% sure it's the water pump, I really don't know what it looks like but it's got a pulley wheel & belt in front of it and is right next to the left-side (if you're facing the front of the vehicle) hose that connects the radiator to the engine, the top hose.

And, how hard is this to replace ? Do I have to pull the whole radiator & everything ??

Please help if you can fella's.

Thanks

Nicholas Orros

[Mike Hippert]

Nicholas, I pmed ya, but if coolant looks like it's comming from behind the pulley the it's the water pump. If you have AC the water pump pulley is the one that drives the AC compressor. It is inbetween the Alternator and the AC compressor. if you go from the middle of the engine and start moving down it will be the first pulley you come in contact with.

Behind the pulley is a weep hole, and when the bearing in the pump wears out it starts to leak coolant, signalling that it needs to be replaced.

[norros]

MIKE,
Thank you for the PM.

You rule once again... YES! It is the water pump... (the one that drives the A/C pulley).

So, I DO NOT have to take off the Radiator & Fan and all that stuff ? I can replace the water pump without doing this ? (THIS is where I'm confused... :( )

I was thinking I had to go out and get this part:
http://www.difflock.com/cgi-bin/wm10/wm10_02606/st/ws20_9800/main/viewsingle.cgi?in_store=5001&item=DF498

I'm also a little 'lost' on :

- What 'starter bracket' need to come off ?

- And I'm not sure about the 'clutch fan' ? (I don't know what it looks like)

- Oh, and you mentioned coating the bolts with sealant as they go back into the block for the water pump... I have 'anti-seize' (that silver stuff) is that what you mean ? or that 'loctite' stuff, I have some of that too. ?

- Lastly, you mentioned replacing the belts... Well, I replaced them about 2 years ago with GATES belts and they look fine. What do you think ?


...There goes my weekend... LOL... I love it though, in a way.

THANKS

N

[Mike Hippert]

The tool in the link makes things easier but is not necessary.

The By Clutch fan I mean the fan on the radiator, you will need to remove it and the fan shroud.

I meant Alternator bracket not starter :), if you look at the water pump the alt tensioner comes down and attaches to the water pump bolts.

Nope Anit-seize is are corrosion inhibitor, Loctite keeps the bolts from loosening from vibration, you want something to seal them up, Right Stuff works GREAT! You can buy Right Stuff at any auto store, it's only $10 and it should be in your tool box in the Rover all the time.

If the belts are good then don't worry about them, the reason I suggested it is you have to take the fan off to replace some of them and it's kinda a PITA to pull the fan just to do the belts.

[norros]

Hey Mike, much appreciated again.

Ok, now I get it...lol...


Last question (I hope)... Say I didn't get that tool, which I probably won't be able to... What size is it ? And what can I use as a replacement...?

I have lots of sockets, some regular wrenches, but once I start pulling this thing apart I'm not going to have transportation to go 'get tools' so I just wanna make sure.

Oh, and as far as the 'sealant' goes... can I use 'HYLOMAR' ?

Nicholas

[bjenk]

I pulled my viscous fan off with a strap wrench and large cresant wrench with big cheater bars...Remember reverse thread on the fan...Oh, I had to remove the belts and then thread the strap wrench on the pulley. Good luck.

[norros]

Brian,


Hey, I appreciate it...

I called a local private auto parts store and they had a 'clutch fan kit' that would work for about $50. The tool I mentioned above from Land Rover is a size 32mm on one end and 36mm on the other, and from what I hear the 36mm is what's needed. So, hopefully this will work.

Nicholas

[jstrong98]

raving about how wonderful and lucky i am to have a worry free car


now thats funny............ :cool:

[norros]

it's a 32... fuck.

N

[bjenk]

Nicholas,

I have a bicycle headset wrench that is a 32mm, it is a very thin wrench. I tried it, but the cresant wrench seemed to get a better bite on the nut. It is just a wierd angle.

[naeirie]

Nicholas,

The size wrench I used is a 1 1/14. Turn the nut clockwise.

[norros]

I appreciate it guys.

I went down to Sears today and purchased an open ended 32mm wrench and used a piece of wood to pry the wheel and it came right off. I still wished I purchased that part, would have made it a lot easier.

Anyway, I installed the new water pump BUT in the process (after taking out the radiator) I accidentally 'hit' the other 'radiator looking thing' (I'm guessing it's an oil cooler ? I don't know) and now it's been 'HISSING' for half an hour. I know I messed something up but what is it ?

THANKS... I don't want to bother Mike on his trail ride, though he said it was ok to call, and whatever it is I broke, it's right there so if I have to change it out then so be it.

Nicholas Orros

--... I narrowed it down to the A/C compressor... oh well, I may be able to get it welded, it's not a big hole. :)