Help in Brisbane NA6

[grump]

I've got a small amount of coolant dribbling out from behind something on the front of the engine. Its dripping off the front of the sump behind the crankshaft pulley. I suspect there is a welch plug on the front of the engine tucked behind something. Like a bloody idiot I don't have a manual. The temp seems to be o.k. but I can smell hotness from the front of the car. Not wanting to cause any damage by driving, as I know a small drip can turn into a torrent when a welsh plug goes. Getting a new welsh plug at this time of the year will probably be impossible. can anyone confirm that there is a welchplug on the front of the engine ,or alternatively can anyone lend me there manual for a couple of hours so i can suss it out.
Was looking forward to the run on saturday night, and if I can get this sorted can still make it. Good old Murphys Law. ph 39010518 if you can be of assistance. cheers Graeme.

[fattima]

Could be the water pump by the sound of it
http://www.miata.net/garage/water_pump.html

[grump]

Just topped up radiator, took about 1/2 ltr, ran it for 1/2 an hour got up to temp, fan coming on, not leaking anywhere, level in radiator stayed the same. no coolant on the ground. will go fir a run and get it a bit hotter and see what happens. one of those annoying things.

[StanTheMan]

every time My pump has gone on the NA6 AT FIRST the leak would come & go. I always brought along a bottle of water.
you may find once you drive it for a while & then stop it will leak more. I drove mine for some time like That.


also the engine will be making a sort of noisy bearing noise. Probably been doing it for some time.


I'd be pretty happy to put a bet on the Water pump.

once you do the water pump & all the associated bits your engine will sound like new.

[Juffa]

Hi Graeme,

As already mentioned sounds like a waterpump on the way out. Here is some info from the big forum. Do you know when the timing belt/water pump were last changed?

http://www.miata.net/garage/CoolingSystemProblems.html

J

[grump]

vehicle has done 113,000 cannot gaurantee if the belt has been done or not. STM you are describing the exact symtoms that I have, right down to the noise. will book it in first thing monday to get belt ,pump, crank seal etc done. probably won't be able to get it done for a week or so ,being the holidays. thanks .

[Steampunk]

It'll be a minor leak from elsewhere if not the water pump, and highly unlikely to be a welsh plug.
Bring along a few liters of demineralised water with you on Saturday and she'll be apples.

Sounding off on what the others have said, taking into account the year of your car, it is below average mileage and thus the water pump is the main suspect due to the fact that it is not lubricated constantly with regular use.

[Szemen]

I just have to say, this has been the second thread about leaking coolant. I was about to start one as well ahahah. I drove to the CBD unknowingly, and half of my overflow tank was gone.

I think for me, it was the hoses right after the water heads from the radiator, to the thermo, where it splits to the into manifold, I think into the engine, and heater...or So I think its there, and the water heads into the respective areas Gotta wait until Monday so I can get a few parts from Mazda.