Mysterious Coolant Leak - Unnerved! (1987 260E)

I had a lower hose go bad the other day and the car overheated. I got a new hose and refilled with coolant/water.

I now have a new leak, apparently behind the water pump, but it seems strangely intermittent. It leaked like mad one day, than no leak yesterday, then leaked again today!

There is no coolant visible forward of the water pump, or under the water pump bearing set.

Is there an obvious fix, or lacking that, please list all of the stuff I should check. I do all my own repairs, and hate to pay the "man" when I can do it myself.

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-Steve

[jeffsr]

I would check the short intermediate hose between the head and the pump. I'll bet it's spraying coolant down towards the back of the pump. If that isn't it, then the o-ring between the pump and the block is leaking..or,,the impeller shaft seal is leaking and the coolant is running out of the weep hole at the base of the pump.. I'll put my money on the short intermediate hose betwen the head and the pump..

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

[yal]

Check everything Jeff mentioned. My money would be the waterpump. Mine leaked when it was hot but stopped leaking when it was cool and sometimes viceversa: weird. The dealer and I thought it was a hose but it turned out to be the water pump seal, aka new pump It gradually got worse also.

yal
88 230E (W124)

[CMuc]

My money's on the pump. My money's Canadian, so I'm not risking as much!

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Chris Muc
Auto Tech
'87 300E 338,000 km

[jeffsr]

Steve, have you ever had that intermediate hose replaced? They can look OK but will develop leaks that can't be seen. Had this on both of my 300's..

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE