Friends,

My original posts are below but this couldn't happen could it?  I
anchored the broken water pump bolt to the housing with some Permatex
and made a pretty good seal.  I drove her to work last night and for
the first time there was no puddle under my truck (I collect the spills
and dispose of it properly).  The one couldn't have anything with the
other could it?  I mean sucking air through the broken bolt couldn't
cause the timing chain cover to leak could it?  I know I'm reaching
here but if I could avoid spending $500.00 to get her repaired...

Steve

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Friends,

I had a radiator shop look at the leak and they said it was the timing
chain cover that is leaking.  Plus one of the water pump bolts is
broke.  I looked up in the Haynes Manual the procedure and it seems to
be a bit beyond my capabilities to remove all these parts and replace
the seals.  Is it that difficult?

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Friends,

    Still need help.  My original posts are below.  After running her
for a while with the dye I don't know anymore than I did before other
than there is a very little bit coming from one of the water pump
mounting bolts.  It seems that most of the anti-freeze is coming out of

the seam that I mentioned below.  The oil dipstick almost touches this
seam about ten inches down from the top.  The dye was glowing almost up

to where the thermostat is but seem to stop well before it got to this
area and as near as I can tell it is dry right below the thermostat.
Could it be the water pump?  Should I replace it?   I still can't find
the weep hole below the water pump pully.  Money is tight right now and

can't really afford to take her to a shop.  Any help would be
appriciated.

Thanks, Steve

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Friends,

    I have a 1996 Ram 4X4 1500 PU, SLT, 5.9L, 75K.  I have had a small

antifreeze leak for quite a while.  It was never enough to leave a spot

on the ground but I would occasionally get a whiff when I got out of
the truck and would have to top off the reservoir every once and a
while.  Yesterday there was a small pool on the ground and it used a
third of the reservoir in a day.  Please forgive the terms I am going
to use below as I really don't know what I'm talking about, as usual.
I'm having trouble finding the exact location of the leak.  It does not

appear to be any hoses.  The best I can trace the leak is that it is
wet on a seam about three inches BEHIND the seam that the water pump is

mated to (with those six or seven bolts), on the passenger side.  In
other words there is the mating surfaces to which the water pump is
bolted (passenger side); then a few inches behind this is a seam.  It
appears that the coolant is coming out of this seam; leaking
onto the oil pan seam; running back a couple of inches; dripping onto
an engine mount; then onto the axle; then to the ground.

Is it possible this leak is actually from the water pump?  I don't know

if a pressure test would help me as I was watching it drip but could
not trace it any further up than I so eloquently stated above.

Steve

Okay,

After I ran the truck a bit I took the alternator support, air filter,
and radiator hose clamp off and looked at the base of the
thermostat.  Nothing at all appears wet around it.  Based on the amount

I lost I would think it would appear a bit wet but not at all.  As for
the weep hole I can in no way find it.  I've been above and below the
truck and ran my hand all over the bottom just behind the pully and had

more mirrors under it than are in a fun house.  BigAl you were talking
about just behind the fan pulley right? The highest area I can find wet

is along that seam I mentioned above.  The oil dip stick actually comes

close to this seam as it goes down into the engine.  I put some dye in
it but don't know what else to try.  Could the water pump be leaking
out of this seam?

Thanks