Quick question - anybody deal with a leaking water pump on their LS1 F-body?

I've got a 1999 Camaro Z28 and I noticed the low coolant light on the other day. Didn't see any coolant under the hood so I refilled the reservoir.

Today I was driving it and heard some squealing so I stopped and found coolant all over the front of the engine.

It does make a funny "bearing" noise on cold start-up (but goes away after it warms up). Has done that since I bought it about 18 months ago.

It wasn't leaking when I was idling it in the driveway so I'm not sure where it is coming from, but I suspect the water pump.

Any thoughts?

 

It's possible, but not very common on these cars.

 

Ok, I'll do some more looking, maybe it is something else. Thanks for the reply

 

My water pump was replaced about six months ago. The leak started off very light, than one day after driving I parked, looked under my Z ('01), and she had tinkled coolant EVERYWHERE.

Is it overheating at all? Fans coming on? Could the squealing possibly be coolant leaking on your belts? Etc...? Try checking the hoses too.

I picked up a new water pump from Napa for about $180-190 and replaced the thermostat at the same time.

 

I would borrow a pressure tester from AZ and try to locate the origin of the leak.

 

I was told its normal for them to "weep" but sounds like yours is doing a little more than that.

 

Good suggestions. No overheating, low coolant light came on a few times, fans are coming on. Yes I think the squealing was the belt slipping due to coolant leaking.

I did check the hose clamps (I replaced them with worm clamps when I changed the hoses a year ago) and they seemed loose. After tightening, didn't notice any coolant leaking but haven't driven it much since then.

I'll keep an eye on it. If it keeps acting up I'll get my hands on a pressurizer.

 

The low coolant sensors on the 1999 models are junk and are always going bad, thats why GM quit installing them on the later year models . As far as the coolant on the front of the engine , I would pressure test the system to see where it is coming from, it could be something as simple as a bad radiator cap .