I Cant Figure Out Where This Massive Leak Is Coming From! Vids**

[kpipalldaway2]

Okay guys im a member on bimmerforums but i wanted to come to the experts in this matter. Im trying to help my brother fix his e30 91 325i. Here is the problem, he was driving when all of a sudden he realized he engine temp was rising. so he pulled over sure enough radiator fluid was all over the engine bay. so he had it towed home.
So i got a bunch of water and pured it into the reservoir, and i notice it was just draining right out (not a drip -but a constant stream of water) it wasnt coming from the radiator, or the hose. So i took the radiator and the hoses off, and pored more water in, sure enough it didnt even reach the hose and was just draining right out from the same spot. when trying to find the source of the leak i was unsuccessful, but it looks to be like behind the fan or above the crank.. because thats where the water is actuall running off of. I figure it was either the water pump or thermostat housing, what do you guys think, here is some vids!
Please read everything before viewing!

http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...t=P6260066.flv

http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c31/kpipalldaway/?action=view&current=P6260065.flv

[Farbin Kaiber]

Bomba de agua. Could be the T-stat housing as well, just reseal that when you replace the pump.

[kpipalldaway2]

huh? lol

[Farbin Kaiber]

Bomba de agua = Water Pump, sorry.

[VacMan]

I agree with Farbin. It's almost guaranteed to be a water pump. I bought an ETA with exactly the same issue, it was like a stream coming from the front of the motor. Replace the timing belt/tensioner while you're in there.

Tim

PS I could have told you the same thing on bf.c, but you never posted. :D

[Farbin Kaiber]

After a long life, a seal on the pump shaft gives the ghost and it just pours out. Sometimes it can be the gasket, I'd bet on the pump itself.

[kpipalldaway2]

okay, thanks guys, any more input would be great. Now how hard is it to change the water pump and timing belt, the access is pretty hard to get to it seems. am i going to have to take the hood off? I have done just about everything short of rebuilding an engine on my e36's so im sure i can handel this but what am i looking at? Is the timing belt hard to get on?

[///M42 sport]

No i did my tb with the hood on. pretty easy. be sure to get a couple extra waterpump gaskets. They're paper and easy to break. You don't want to put it on wrong and have to tear into your engine again just b/c of a stupid 50cent gasket!

[kpipalldaway2]

how did u see with the hood on, what do you have to do to get the TB on?

[Stevie30]

The best way is to remove the hood and radiator. Follow instructions in Bentley or other on-line articles. Good time to inspect all belts and hoses. Good luck!

[jlevie]

The water pump is a likely culprit, but the leak could just as easily be form any of the hoses where they connect to the pump.

Removing the hood to change a water pump and/or timing belt is a waste of time and effort. Removing the radiator, however, makes a lot of sense. And while the coolant is out, change the thermostat and any hoses that look the least bit iffy.

[kpipalldaway2]

anyone else?

[kpipalldaway2]

which one should i get???


http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...50&itemquant=1

[kpipalldaway2]

or this one http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...25&itemquant=1

[rodrigo]

the Bentley has good instructions. I did my timing belt, water pump, tensioner and t-stat with the hood on. Just remove the fan and radiator and all the hoses and there is plenty on space.

go to the dealer and get the plastic wiring clip that holds the wiring on the t-belt cover (going on memory here from 8 months ago) and the seals for the crank and camshaft...replace them too. if they leak, the t-belt chage will have been useless.