What next ???
 

Woke up this morning and what do I see? a big puddle of anti-freeze underneath my car. It was quite cold last night in the 20's I believe. I have been sick the last few days so I haven't been able to change my coolant as I was planning to do friday morning. Someone please tell me its not my water pump thats leaking all over the place. I can't see the coolant anywear on the pump or the hoses but it can be seen on the oil pan running down. From what I understand there is a weep hole that the coolant may be coming out of that is located on the bottomside of the pump. Is there anything else it could be? All this two weeks before my scheduled departure date on a trip cross country. I guess I have to remove the tensioner to remove the coolant pump if thats the problem...I really hope it isn't...things just haven't been going my way lately with this thing.

Sorry for the bad luck, but bad things sometimes happen to good people.

It's either your water pump or a heater hose.

Thanks paul,

Which heater hose are you refering too? the one located near the rear of the motor? I haven't been able to take a super close look at it...Its pretty cold out there :( thanks for the kind words....

Yes, shortly after I replaced my water pump because of leaking, the heater hose at the back of the engine developed a leak.

If you replace the water pump, replace the bearing bracket that the belt loops around. If not, it'll go out, too, soon afterward.

Oh yeah one other question...Why would the water pump go out with no warning and without it being driven? Did it freeze inside?

I must have bad luck with water pumps, as it went out on my Dodge Intrepid, Nissan Quest, Ford Explorer, and my Mercedes.

They all went out with no warning. Not even a sound like a bearing is going out.

They just started leaking.

I don't think the cold has anything to do with it. Just age.

When I did mine, I replaced:

Bearing bracket - $138.00
Belt Pully - $34.00
Belt - $42.00
Water Pump - $228.00
T-stat - $28.00

Maintenance item?
 

Hello Paul - Curiosity kills the cat here. Is there a round about mileage where water pumps begin to fail, or can some go forever without being replaced? I've heard a lot of discussion about this in general, but nothing specific to MB. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks much!! -Michael.

Well, I don't know if my thoughts are worth much, but my observations from this site and my personal experience suggests that they can go out between 90,000 and 120,000 miles.

There are probably some that may go much longer, but I think you'd have to be lucky.

Hey Speed Racer,

I would guess that Your failure occured before you turned off the motor or it got very very cold for North Carolina. In general if your engine freezes it will push out the freeze plugs. It's got to get below 0F usually if that's to happen.

But it sounded like you had some antifreeze in the radiator. When you've got some time put some water, or light antifreeze mixture and drive the car until it warms up, and look for the leak. A failed water pump will appear as a spray of water from behind the pulley drive flange.

If You require a replacement pump make sure the impeller inside the replacement pump is the same size as the one that came with the car.

Good Luck,

Randy Roeges

Hi guys.. I have the same motor (m103) and my waterpump went out at 170,000 miles. My mechanic said it was the original one and was surprised that it lasted this long. I wouild be happy if my new waterpump would last another 170,000 miles:D :p

Hi paul,

I ordered my parts today.. Good news the cost wasn't too bad. Hopefully the labor wont be either..:) You mentioned a bearing bracket.. Are you refering to the tensioner bearing pulley or the fan bearing??? thank you .. so far I have the water pump, 1 O ring the small hose that goes from the WP to the head and a new tensioner adjusting rod. Thank you and see you soon....:)

Randy,

Thank You for your reply...Today I did as you suggested. I refilled about 1 gallon of anit-freeze I ran the car in my driveway for a while with no leaks or mist spray...I then took it for a drive. I noticed it got a little on the warm side when I got it up to 60mph but it did not quite reach the 100 degree mark but as soon as a slowed down a bit the temp dropped back to normal. I let sit in my driveway again after all this, again no leaks ... Very strange could the thermostat be faulty and somehow caused the leak the other night... Thank you again for your help!

Shoot, I'm in a hotel right now, so I can't go look at my car, but I think I recall it's the tensioner bearing pulley.

If you look, it should be obvious if you look and see what pulley the belt winds around.

See ya at the GTG at Alon's house in Beverly Hills. You are going to awfully impressed with the house.

Paul,

Cool I just replaced that last week!!!:D I cant wait its going to be such a good time.. I hope my car will be in SD in time. Looks like I am going to ship it instead of driving it..

Thanks again

My water pump went out at 90k miles. But the car was 12 yrs old at that point. It just started leaking all over too. Mine always seemed to leak out slowly over time after it sat.