Its raining coolant, hallelujah - '90 740 Turbo

[Skonnie]

Took a very short trip the other day and came home to discover that
coolant was leaking all over the place. The car didn't overheat, and
I believe I've isolated the source of the leak - the water pump, or
the gaskets therefrom.

My question is, since it leaked from the pump and got sprayed all over
the fan, should I be worried about coolant residue on the alternator,
or anything else in that area? The timing belt is covered, obviously,
so I don't think there's a problem there, but I've heard about
problems arising from this situation.

Also, when I pulled into the driveway, the power steering seemed to go
out. Would that be a side effect of the coolant going everywhere?
I'm gonna install a new pump (or gaskets) myself, so I'll be able to
do anything sort of cleanup necessary. Any advice on the coolant
cleanup and/or pump install?

Thanks, Volvo-Community-At-Large.

A

PS- I'll assume most of you have seen this, but for the overseas
types, here's a fascinating link about old Volvos and our former
Secretary of State Colin Powell. Weird, I know.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/a...tml?ex=1173844800&en=883f92e23698c528&ei=5070

 

[James Sweet]

Took a very short trip the other day and came home to discover that
coolant was leaking all over the place. The car didn't overheat, and
I believe I've isolated the source of the leak - the water pump, or
the gaskets therefrom.

My question is, since it leaked from the pump and got sprayed all over
the fan, should I be worried about coolant residue on the alternator,
or anything else in that area? The timing belt is covered, obviously,
so I don't think there's a problem there, but I've heard about
problems arising from this situation.

Also, when I pulled into the driveway, the power steering seemed to go
out. Would that be a side effect of the coolant going everywhere?
I'm gonna install a new pump (or gaskets) myself, so I'll be able to
do anything sort of cleanup necessary. Any advice on the coolant
cleanup and/or pump install?

Thanks, Volvo-Community-At-Large.

Grab the fan/water pump shaft and give it a wiggle, if it wiggles up and
down the pump is definitely shot. The coolant shouldn't have damaged
anything, that stuff is all pretty resistant to liquid since the area
under a car's hood is quite a harsh climate in general. I forget what
layout that year uses but the power steering pump may be on the same
belt as the water pump so bad bearing means loose slipping belt as well
as coolant leak.

 

[Per Mathisen]

If it turns out to be a faulty water-pump or gasket, then there is a good
idea to change the timing belt when your in there.
The belt is probably full of anti-freeze which could speed up the aging
prosess or eat up the rubber.
You dont want that belt to fail on You.

Good luck..

Per Mathisen
Norway
-88 780 w/350SBC

 

[yaofeng]

Took a very short trip the other day and came home to discover that
coolant was leaking all over the place. The car didn't overheat, and
I believe I've isolated the source of the leak - the water pump, or
the gaskets therefrom.

My question is, since it leaked from the pump and got sprayed all over
the fan, should I be worried about coolant residue on the alternator,
or anything else in that area? The timing belt is covered, obviously,
so I don't think there's a problem there, but I've heard about
problems arising from this situation.

Also, when I pulled into the driveway, the power steering seemed to go
out. Would that be a side effect of the coolant going everywhere?
I'm gonna install a new pump (or gaskets) myself, so I'll be able to
do anything sort of cleanup necessary. Any advice on the coolant
cleanup and/or pump install?

Thanks, Volvo-Community-At-Large.

A

PS- I'll assume most of you have seen this, but for the overseas
types, here's a fascinating link about old Volvos and our former
Secretary of State Colin Powell. Weird, I know.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/automobiles/collectibles/04VOLVO.ht...

Lost coolant and the engine doesn't overheat? Yes I have a car like
that too. My 93 940 wagon is like that. This is the ugly duckling in
our household. I rarely pay attention to it except mobil 1 every
10,000 miles and transmission fluid flush every 20,000 miles. It
never complained. Just get up and go. Let's see. my daughter drove
it to highschool everyday as a senior. She is now a senior in
college. So it has been at least four years I have ignored the slow
leak on the water pump. I just top up the coolant. And the cue to do
it is when she complained there is no heat during winter. There is no
heat because the coolant level is low enough it doesn't get to the
heater core to provide heat. Wife complained again there is no heat
inside the 940 cabin last week.

My SAAB 9000's and 5 series cannot take this abuse. I know. I
finally bought a Hepu water pump this week.