mikeliz101301

I have an antifreeze leak in my 1992 4 runner right behind where the thermostat connects to the ??? I am not going to pretend I know what I am talking about here. We changed the thermostat, but that didn't help. After we fill the radiator up with antifreeze we thought everything was going to work, but it started leaking again.

When all hoses are connected, the leak is coming from where the thermostat is connected to the ??? with 3 bolts.

What could it be? I hate to spend hundreds of $$$ if we can do it ourself. Please help. Oh yeah, it overheated right before this happened and then I took it home and that is when I noticed the leak. It was a fast leak.

Blurr

are you working on a v6 or 4cyl? could be the hose going to the oil cooler.

abecedarian

what engine? can you get a pic of where it's leaking?

mikeliz101301

It is a V6 4X4. I just bought it a year ago. It has 170,000 miles on it and from what I understand the head gaskets have been replaced because they were recalled at one time. I will get a picture of it and then try to figure out how to upload the pic to the website.

DupermanDave

Did you replace the thermostat gasket? When I did the head job I replaced all the gaskets in the engine, and I put the thermostat back together without replacing the gasket. It started to leak and I realized I left that gasket out, so I took it apart and replaced it. No more leaks.

Well, except for one more area in the water bypass. I made a gasket for that and it just seeps out right now. I bought some silicon gasket maker to fix it when it's warmer outside. Might want to consider gaskets as your problem if you are reusing old ones.

algranger

im not sure on the 6 cyl but the temp sensor is right by there on my 22r it can leak check that gasket too. the stat should have a ring-seal around it that seals it off but if its leaking past that get some gasket maker and make a gasket for the stat cover.

thook

algranger........on the 3.0 the temp sensor is up top of the motor. The thermo is on the front down below where the lower rad hose is.

The ??? is the water pump. That could be a leak.

mikeliz101301

The thermostat and the gasket were replaced. I tried to get some good pics, but we have it all taken apart right now. Basically the big hose that comes from the radiator that goes to the water pump (???) that has the thermostat in it is leaking where it seals up to the water pump (???). This is a 3.0.

mikeliz101301

alright, when you are looking at the pics, it is leaking behind the piece that is shown in the picture. it looks like a spacer that is connected by 2 bolts but I don't know if it can be removed. I don't know if this helps, but the piece that I am talking about is a shiny silver, where as the housing unit behind it is duller.

thook

Ah, yes........sorry. Got side tracked.

Here's the FSM blow up diagram of what you're looking at. I could explain, but it would be easier for you to get a real visual of the part in question.

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...09waterpum.pdf

As you can see, it has to come off as one unit. The seal behind your water pump is leaking, if I understand your posts correctly?

mikeliz101301

Thanks for your help. Sounds like I will be replacing the water pump. Also, the web address came up fine, but a couple of the links inside the document wouldn't come up. For example when it said See Paige EG2-32 and See page EG2-41.

Once again, THANKS!!!

mt_goat

Yeah those links don't work, but here's the whole 93 FSM: http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...fsm/index.html

BTW to get to the water pump you have to take off the timing belt (no small task), so you might want to change that while you are in there.

Here's EG2–32, http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...67timingbe.pdf

thook

<<grimaces>>

How many miles are on this motor? Any idea when the last timing belt replacement was done and what was done while that was done?.....<<cough, cough>>>...that was a keyboard mouth full.

mikeliz101301

The timing belt was changed at 128,000 miles and it now has 176,000 miles on it. The belt was changed in 2002. The vehicle originally came from someone in California, but we bought it used a year ago. I know for sure the head gaskets have been replaced and we recently had the steering relay rod replaced. We got a quote from the shop and they said $720 to fix the water pump and timing belt. We want to do it ourselves, but neither one of us have any mechanical experience and don't want to screw anything up.

thook

Yeah, at almost 50k miles it wouldn't a bad idea to change the belt. I mean, it's probably fine and could go a while longer. The maintenance schedule is 60k? or 80k? Not sure off hand. Hope someone will correct me. A dealership could tell you, for sure.

Anyway, water pumps last around 200k on average. Depends on how well it was maintained. But, the pump and the belt are such an undertaking, most people do it while they're in there so they don't have to tear it all down again very soon. If you have the money, go for it. Meaning, DIY. It's not as hard as it would seem.....really. If you or your SO have any mechanical aptitude at all, you can do this job and save a lot of money. And, ANYONE here would be happy to help you through it. Count on it. The resources are all on YT including write ups and factory manuals.

So, what do ya say? Wanna give it go?

thook

Oh....you will need a few tools, though. Hope you have some. Timing light? Wrenches....sockets....drivers...breaker bar? Paper clip?