Dripping weep hole = bad water pump?

[Cade93TA]

I have anti-freeze dripping pretty badly from the weep hole on my water pump. does that mean that the pump is bad or just the seals.
If I have to replace the water pump, Do you guys recommend the electric water pump?

Thanks Cade

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Sometimes it's just the seal, sometimes the bearing wears taking out the seal. A leaking pump will drown the optispark, then you get to fix that too, so fix the leak ASAP.

Electric pumps work well, but you get no warning if it quits and a replacement might need to be shipped from Jegs, or wherever they got one in stock (in otherwords, probably not at the local parts store). I have a CSI, and it seems reliable, but I carry a spare on trips, and I am always eyeballing the gauge . A mechanical pump usually doesn't go out all at once, but gives you a warning - like yours is doing. Electrics are just more likely to die a sudden death. When I did the CSI, I plugged the weep hole so it wouldn't get the chance to tinkle on my opti. Electrics are good for 2500 hrs or so - for my car, that will be years. It's not a daily driver...

[N20LT4Bird]

Kevin is absolutely right on both counts. That leaking pump is one most popular optispark killers. Dont let it drip on the opti!

I've got a meziere pump in my car that crapped out about a month ago. I usually watch my guages all the time, but I was talking to my wife and neglected to this time. I looked down and the temp is PEGGED I wound up doing as head job with the water pump. I was able to fix the pump by resoldering the connections that came apart inside the pump. I cleaned the brushes up and off I went. I keep a real good eye on it now! I am now thinking about installing a mechanical arm that comes out and wacks me when the temp breaches 220

[BAS]

ummm

I think they have devices to alert you for pump
failure these days.

[pete]

Last February when the opti was acting up, and all had to be removed, my water pump bearings were starting to pop out, and the rear seal on the pump was gone, but no coolant......got another warranty replacement mechanical pump.

I drilled out the weep hole to 3/16" and installed a 90 deg. 3/16" hose elbow, and ran the hose down past the opti to the steering rack, so WHEN it goes again, the initial shot of coolant should be deflected to a noticable spot.

BTW the cleaned and vented opti has given me 20,000 miles.

[Cade93TA]

thanks guys that was very helpful...n/m

165