The water pump is an essential component of the engine's coolant system. When the engine overheats, the thermostat opens allowing the water pump to circulate coolant through the engine. When the water pump seal goes bad, the pump is designed to leak coolant through a small hole called a weep hole. The presence of leaking coolant should alert you that something is wrong with your coolant system. Finding and inspecting the weep hole can help you decide whether the source of the problem is your water pump or a hole in the coolant hose.
Park your vehicle in a safe location on even ground. Turn on the vehicle and allow it to idle for at least 15 minutes to warm up the engine. Look for leaking coolant while you are locating the weep hole. Engage the parking brake, but keep the engine running.
Open the hood. Locate the water pump. An easy way to locate the water pump is to first locate the radiator fan in the front of the hood area. Behind the fan is the fan belt, which resembles a rubber pulley system. The water pump is between the fan belt and the engine.
Locate the weep hole on the underside of the water pump. Depending on the coolant system on your vehicle, you may be able to see the weep hole without further steps. Remove the fan belt to access the underside of the water pump and locate the weep hole, if the water pump is partially covered.
