What on earth is this part thats leaking coolant?

[jdaigner]

I just had a guy replace all my belts on my 1990 325i... soon after, the thermo gasket blew, and i had him replace that... i noticed my coolant light come on tonight, so i opened up the skid plate, and saw the thing at the top of the picture was leaking... or appeared to be leaking from the above area's gasket... What is it ?

[RedHoodRidah]

Water pump

[jdaigner]

Thats what i figured... The guy who changed the belt, and "inspected" the pump, must not have replaced the gasket.

[RedHoodRidah]

Make sure when you go back that your there to see him work on it and change the parts without half assing anything. I hate some shops for that reason.

[jdaigner]

yeah... he has 25 years working for BMW, and all kinds of placks on the wall, i figured he would have done it proper...

Would this leaking coolant, and the coolant getting hotter, cause the gasket on the thermo to blow out like it did ? costing me more money.

[RedHoodRidah]

If its leaking after it being replace he must of put it on wrong or the gasket was defective or he made it defective. Shouldn't be leaking if it was done right but I could be wrong.

Get that water pump fixed buy a new unit and gasket and just be there to see it get done or just do it yourself.

[Rolla1990]

Did the guy also change your timing belt, or just your accessory belts? Usually the water pump is replaced during a timing belt change because it's another "while you're in there" part.

[jdaigner]

He replaced timing and all other belts... i told him to replace the water pump, he said he looked at it, and no broken plastic, and ran well, so he didn't replace it.

[nando]

timing belts and waterpump have the same service interval. if one needs replaced, so does the other.

fortunately you can still replace it without touching the belt.

[jdaigner]

How long will it take now, to just get to that pump ? Vs belt and pump.

[nando]

same time. that's why you usually do both. :(

[jdaigner]

oh LAME ! Gonna have to have the guy fix it for free then

[bmwpower]

Anytime you remove the tension on the timing belt, as is needed in a water pump replacement, you need to replace the timing belt as well. This is because the tensioner spring presses against the water pump housing - the tensioner needs to be removed prior to removing the pump.

Shame on your mechanic for not replacing the pump.

[nando]

you don't have to remove the tension on the belt to replace the waterpump. Leave the bolt that holds the tensioner alone, remove water pump, reinstall water pump, done.

also, the thing about taking tension off the belt and having to replace it is a myth. I've done it. :)

[Mtriple]

you don't have to remove the tension on the belt to replace the waterpump. Leave the bolt that holds the tensioner alone, remove water pump, reinstall water pump, done.

also, the thing about taking tension off the belt and having to replace it is a myth. I've done it. :)

Nice 12,000th post! :mrgreen: