I am having a leak between the block and the part the water pump mounts to. any ideas? it looks like a pin hole but the coolant just sprays out.

 

Sounds like the gasket between the WP and timing chain cover is blown.(or one or the other is cracked) Where is it leaking ,top ,bottom, side? If it's the bottom, maybe it's coming out the weep hole of the WP. Which means it needs to be replaced. Either way it has to come off, so might as well replace it. And btw, a little info about the truck would be nice.

 

Ok, i hav a 96 Dakota 3.9L engine. i replaced the water pump. The leak is on the side, looks like a small hole that the coolant just sprays out. Does the timing cover look like it is an aluminum part? is there much to replacing the gasket? thanks

 

Did you replace the water pump yourself? If you did you would have replaced the gasket, if it is leaking there it would be because the gasket didnt seal.

That is assuming you arent saying a small hole in the metal.

 

I did replace it myself and i used the new gasket with a sealent made for water pumps. I saw the leak and it is between the block and a piece that is mounted to the front of the block and the water pump is mounted to part of it. i am not sure what the piece is.

 

It is the timing chain cover, when you did the WP and broke it free it most likely loosened up and tore that gasket.

 

yep zman17,sounds like the timing chain gasket. i had a pump bolt loosen on me and fluid ran out and the crankcase filled with antifreeze. solved the problem by draining the antifreeze from the system, replacing the timing chain gasket and pump gasket then putting locktight on the bolt threads to seal them and keep them from backing out.
CHECK YOUR OIL BEFORE YOU RUN IT! because some may have leaked into your crankcase through the timing chain cover gasket

 

Make sure you mark the bolts from where they came. You don't want to put the wrong length bolt and puncture a cylinder.