Coolant Leak

[rcalzadilla]

2001 PT Cruiser, Ltd Edition, 2.4 engine, non-turbo. 75,000 miles.

Just call me lucky!
Just got over an oil leak and transmission-drive axle leak and now have a water pump leak, my best guess, as nothing else that is viewable, is leaking.
So, timing belt replacement time must be coming.
I figure I will be replacing, correct me if wrong, the following:
Timing Belt,
Belt Tensioner,
Water Pump with gasket and o ring.
Is there anything else that should be replaced?

[CREWZIN]

If you haven't done it before, the PT has two drive belts called the Serpentine and alternator belts. These don't HAVE to be replaced at the same time if your short on cash but they will wear out sooner or later and strand you on the road when they do.

Before you go too far, make sure of the leak. Your best guess could be wrong. You have the radiator cap and both upper and lower radiator hoses that could be leaking. You have the in and out heater hoses also. You could also have picked up a stone or sharp object that punctured the radiator itself.

If it's one of the places I've mentioned, you can go for another 25,000 miles before the timing belt and other things need to be changed.

[rcalzadilla]

crewzin:
I'm going to look again very carefully. Have eliminated the two radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator cap and thermostat housing and the actual radiator.
Coolant comes from passsenger side unto the plastic cover and to the ground from there.

The water pump gasket design looks to me like it would be very hard to leak from there, as the propeller shaft is totally enclosed. Other mfrs' water pump leak from the shaft's seal but, the shaft in this pump is enclosed totally.

Thanks for your response.

I misspoke, the water pump has a shaft that could leak.

[quicksilverdon]

Agree w/Crewzin. Maybe have a cooling system pressure test done before you take a plunge....

[rcalzadilla]

Originally Posted by quicksilverdon

Agree w/Crewzin. Maybe have a cooling system pressure test done before you take a plunge....

How does the pressure test work?

[Hooligan]

Normally a type of hand pump with a guage is put on where the radiator cap goes. The system is pressurized with the hand pump and IF and WHERE a leak is, the pressure will force the fluid out at the leak.

[lmmegt]

Try a good stop-leak first like Silver Seal.......

[rcalzadilla]

Originally Posted by lmmegt

Try a good stop-leak first like Silver Seal.......

Is this the Silver Seal you refer to? :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AME522

Thanks

[lmmegt]

Yes - Been around for decades - really good stuff.

[Anthony]

Just picked up an '02 Touring Edition with 102 km's. It has what I suspect is a leaky head gasket, causing it to burn coolant (around 1 litre for 300km of driving). After a few minutes of running, the outside of the car smells of coolant. No white smoke and no smells in the driving compartment.

I understand this is a nine hour repair with a tiny cost for parts. How much would throwing in replacing the timing belts and water pump add to this bill?