Ok, car is 97 avenger es 2.5 v6 auto

182K miles


For a while now the car has been using some antifreeze and I have to top if off every now and then. Then the belt started sqeeking when you first start it up. It would squeel for 2-3 secs and then be fine. Now I pulled it into shop last nite to change oil and it drips water out. Its not the hoses or radiator. I started taking it apart looking for the leak.

It appears the water is running down the block from just above the area where the timing belt tensioner is.... I removed the alt. bracket that bolts to the side of the block and it the block is clean in that area from where the water has been running down it for some time. however when I look in this area I dont see any possible place for it to come out. I was thinking it could be the water pump.... but shouldnt that run out of the bottom of the cover instead of about half up the side where the tensioner is??? Please help, Im stumped as to where the leak is coming from in this area......

 

Pictures of the area may help ...I'm not totally following your description

 

Trust me, it is your water pump. It baffled me too since I changed mine, and within 2 years it went bad this sameway. It is designed so that the water from the vent in the bearing cavity flows away from the timing belt and in a channel in the block. It will drip off of the timing belt tensioner on the rear, and also down the front of the block if the leak is significant enough. Good Luck.
Mr. Bill