Chrysler Repair: Water squirting from engine on the right side of car, metal slug, water pipes

Question
My 1990 Chrysler has water coming out of the drivers side of the engine. I cant tell where it is coming from. I hope it's a hose...but I cant tell. It came out last night for about 20 seconds like it was coming from a water hose. Thank You.  Carroll

Answer
Hi Carroll,
The only way to tell will be to get a visual inspection of that area. You didn't mention the vehicle model or the size of the engine so I can't give you any specific ideas. However there are two general possibilities: a hose or a coupling of water pipes that carry coolant, or what is called a freeze plug located in the engine block which is a thin round metal slug that is an expansion safety device that will open when sub-freezing temperatures might solidify coolant that is not sufficiently protected with anti-freese in order to protect the block against cracking. These plugs can corrode or become leaky with time and can thus spring a leak. They are easy to replace if you can get a good access to them. Just remove the remnants of the old plug, clean the edge of the hole, and tap in a new one symmetrically to seal tight.
So if you aren't a mechanic the best thing would be to locate a shop that you trust nearby and have the car towed there to identify what is leaking. If you can get a view of the area with sufficient lighting you might find a loose fitting/hose damage that you can repair yourself without towing the car. Don't panic, it is probably not major.
If you get a look and see it, write back and tell me the details. But don't drive the car with this condition as real damage could be done if you have low/no coolant in the system.
Roland
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