Coolant leak?

Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA
  • 2.7L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 224,000 MILES
I had a coolant leak coming from underneath the water pump. So, we changed the water pump and torqued it down just right and put everything back. Then when we filled up the radiator, coolant started leaking out down there just as fast as we are putting it in. Is there anything in that area besides the water pump that it could be?
Monday, September 25th, 2023 AT 4:15 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,303 POSTS
Yes, there is a coolant inlet pipe sealed by O rings that can rot out and leak. You might need to remove the intake manifold. Here is how the job is done and exploded views of the cooling system and the coolant inlet pipe I speak of. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
Hi,

Do you still have the timing cover off? There really isn't anything under the pump. How quickly does the coolant drain out?

Here is a link that explains how to pressure test the system. Take a look through it. It may help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Let me know.

Joe
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Pretty much immediately draining as soon as I put it in.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
Hi,

Are you sure it isn't a hose or something similar? There is a coolant inlet pipe to the pump that depends on an O-ring to seal. Have you checked around that area? See pic below.

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 AT 8:03 PM
Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Got to tear it apart again. Doing it today.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 3:33 AM
Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Is this it?
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 3:37 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,303 POSTS
Yep, that is it, be sure to check the tube because they can rust out.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 8:31 AM
Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
So where exactly do I access it?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 1:47 PM
Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Looks like it was the water pump after all. Too much of the silicone gasket stuff was on there and there was a gap we hadn't seen before.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
Hi,

I believe on this year/model, the inlet tube runs from the rear of the thermostat housing and under the intake manifold. See pics below.

Once you locate it, check to make sure that is where the leak is coming from.

Let me know.

Joe

See pics below.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
LISTER89
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
We were trying to get to that, but then we realized that it wasn't leaking out of there. Once we had the water pump exposed again, I decided to pour a little bit of water in the radiator and realized that it was coming out of the water pump after all. The dude that I had do it for me put way too much of that silicone gasket stuff on it and it left gaps.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 28th, 2023 AT 2:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,303 POSTS
Yep, it happens at least you found the problem nice work. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 28th, 2023 AT 10:23 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Leak Content

Cooling System Pressure Test For Leaks
VIDEO
Cooling System Pressure Test For Leaks
In­struc­tional re­pair video
Coolant Leak Symptoms
GUIDE
Coolant Leak Symptoms
En­gine coolant is es­sen­tial for reg­u­lat­ing your ve­hi­cle’s tem­per­a­ture. A coolant leak can lead to se­ri­ous en­gine dam­age if not ad­dressed quickly. Be­low, we out­line the...