Chrysler Repair: Chryslr 1996 Sebring cooling leak, 2.5 V-6, chrysler sebring, coolant hose

Question
Dear Mr. Finston,

I have a 1996 Chrysler sebring that has developed a cooling system leak the repair shop is replacing the water pump and the timing belt. However, they seem to think that the block might be cracked or there is a coolant hose that runs behind the engine that might be cracked.  Any information that you can provide will be greatly appreciated as I love my sebring.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Mary,
It would be good to define if at all possible whether the leak is in the waterpump's bearing, which would cause water to flow from the timing cover at the front of the engine onto the ground; or from the o-ring seal of the pipe that returns water to the rear of the water pump that comes from the center rear of the engine forward to the water pump, which would cause a leak to come out the rear of the engine between the two cylinder banks and onto the ground; or if water is leaking directly into the engine (which would cause a foamy cloudy oil to be present on the dip stick (maybe cracked engine) or white smoke coming from the tail pipe, if a headgasket were blown).
The first requires replacing the water pump and while at it the timing belt, the second requires removing the water return pipe that comes from the rear of the engine to the front where the water pump is located and simply replacing the leaky o-ring between the pipe and the back side of the pump and reassembling; while the third requires diagnosis for whether there is a cracked block or cylinder head, or instead a head gasket that has blown (a cracked block is very serious trouble, a head gasket is major but not requiring an engine rebuild).
But in any case, I would require that they make a written commitment that they have the correct diagnosis before starting on the repair so that there is no 'surprise' when they find that they haven't done the correct repair. Neither the first or third job is cheap to do, so there is no point in trying either without truly knowing what is wrong. If they haven't started yet, I would ask them to tell you why they are sure that the pump is the only cause of the problem or at worst the pump and the o-ring. The o-ring should be replaced when the pump is replaced in any case so job two would be done along with job one if that is the route they take. But maybe job two is all that is needed, going from the rear to the front of the engine and not replacing the pump or the timing belt. But if the pump is truly bad then of course do it and timing belt because they are part of the same job and there is no point in not replacing the belt when the pump needs to be replaced.
I don't know of any other "coolant hose behind the engine" that is a reason for uncertainty or obfuscation other than that return pipe whose o-ring could be the entire cause of your leak and that should be differentiable from the water pump itself. If you don't have real confidence and experience with this shop I would get a second opinion. Take your time and don't be pressured. Too many dollars are at stake.
Please let me know what transpires. And best of luck in your effort to keep your Sebring going for many years.
Roland