96 Dodge dakota 3.9L

I just replaced the water pump due to it leaking and the old one was definatly shot as I could grab the fan and wiggle it. It had been eaking for a little while before I replaced it just yesterday with a new one from autozone. I also have a new radiator.

I drove the truck about 150 miles and noticed the level in the tank go from full to half full and there was coolant dripping from the frame and also dryed rusty water on the new water pump. The area behind the pulley and below that is wet. Could the new water pump be bad? I put a new gasket in too. Could that little hose the goes under the alternator/ac braket to the pump be bad?

Any suggestions.

 

Really good chance that hose could be bad, you're the only one that can tell, you were in there. When doing something like a water pump its best to inspect all hoses. Has that hose ever been changed?

Especially if it was a spring clip and you clamped it onto the hose when disconnecting it there is a good chance it tore the hose. You'll need to take off the ac bracket to really see.

 

When ever I do water pumps on these trucks, especially with the 3.9/5.2/or 5.9L engines, I replace that hose and the thermostat. But I have seen brand new pumps be bad too.

 

did you get a new or reman pump? The last reman I bought (older 318) did that to me in <200 miles so I returned it and paid the difference towards a brand new one problem solved

 

Yes, like everyone already said it is most likely the hose that is leaking (Called a bypass hose BTW)... unless you didn't get a good seal on the water pump. It is quite a bit more work to get the alternator/ac bracket off but it is the only way you will replace that bypass hose. Should only take about an hour to do, just remember where each bolt goes because some of them are different lengths. I like to use a piece of cardboard and punch holes in it in the correct orientation so I know where each bolt goes, because I will forget in 10 mins where they go hahaha.