I have a 1998 Venture with approx 89000 miles on it. I have replaced the water pump once, water pump gasket twice, intake gaskets once and just did intake gaskets and head gaskets this week. When I started it was leaking at the intake gaskets again I thought. I got it all back together and water poured/trickled out the passenger side of the motor again. It it not the water pump or weep hole. Is it possible that the water pump housing is cracked? I cannot see any place for it to be leaking that hasn't just been replaced or resealed. I had a shop pressure check it and they were stumped. It seems to spray out by the water pump but not at the gasket.
Has anyone done a water pump housing replacement and what does it involve?

I have a 1998 Venture with approx 89000 miles on it. I have replaced the water pump once, water pump gasket twice, intake gaskets once and just did intake gaskets and head gaskets this week. When I started it was leaking at the intake gaskets again I thought. I got it all back together and water poured/trickled out the passenger side of the motor again. It it not the water pump or weep hole. Is it possible that the water pump housing is cracked? I cannot see any place for it to be leaking that hasn't just been replaced or resealed. I had a shop pressure check it and they were stumped. It seems to spray out by the water pump but not at the gasket.
Has anyone done a water pump housing replacement and what does it involve?

If you had to replace the intake manifold gaskets again, you must have been given the old style gaskets which were no good.

The revised gasket kit came out in Feb/2003.

The only sure-fire way I know of to locate a coolant leak (aside from an external one) is with a coolant pressure test.

I had a shop pressure test the system and it sprays out to the left of the water pump if you're looking at the side of the engine. It is not very clear where it is coming out. Hairline crack? Has anyone experienced this before?

The front cover of the engine has a water passage from one side to the other. There are a couple of bolts that go right through the passage and could be leaking. These are the larger bolt heads, one on either side (front & back as it sits sideways) of the front cover. You could remove these and recoat them with sealant to see if that's the problem--its likely you will have to remove the front cover and install a new gasket though. Not sure if this can be done without dropping the engine frame down--the harmonic balancer needs to come off first.

Thank you very much Merc. That is a big help. We were wondering where the coolant went through on that side. I had to drop all that and down and remove the balancer last year to replace the oil pump. Is the reason for dropping the motor so you can get a tool on the balancer? or is there a way around loosening the subframe and all the mounts just to remove the balancer?
*sets fire to van*

" *sets fire to van* " :naughty:

Really, its not that bad. I'm not sure you need to drop it, I just never tried it while the engine was installed. This would be a realy easy thing to deal with if it wasn't so close to the wheel well cover and the battery and all. I know you can remove the belt pulleys while the engine is in place. I know you can gain access to the balancer by unbuttoning the splash shields in the wheel well (careful, the abs sensor wire is clipped on to it). I'm just not sure if you have enough room to get all the stuff off that you would need to remove the front cover so you can change the gasket under it.

On the bright side, you may not need to change the gasket, the sealant on those bolts may do the trick.
If you are old enough to remember guys landing on the moon, then you perhaps have seen chevy engines with water pumps that bolted on the front of the engine on the left and right side, but had a gap behind them and the timing chain cover? The water passage was out the driver's side head, into the front mounted water pump, and out into the passenger side head.
This is that same engine style, but they have replaced the front cover (in this case the side cover) with a cast aluminum section that allows for the new water pump style, and all those idler pulleys for the belt and alternator and the mounting for the power steering, etc. Underneath all that is the old chevy block just like it looked in the 70s.

The two bolts you want to inspect and maybe reseal are the main ones that would be on the left and right side of that old style water pump that is no longer used. :sly: The bolt holes go right through the water passage on both sides.

John

Ok. We tore the side down and took off the harmonic balancer and such. It turns out it is the timing cover gasket that was leaking. We went ahead and replaced the chain and gear and put a new gasket on and it is not leaking anymore, anywhere (knock on wood). You should never say, 'there is no coolant leak' andwhere near a Venture. We didn't have to jack the motor up or do anything drastic to change the timing cover gasket for those of you out there who have this worry.
Thanks John.