1996 Concorde 3.3 Coolant Leak

I'm getting a coolant leak near the front of the engine. It is not the
radiator. I suspect the water pump. What's the cost of repair if I take
it to a repair shop or a dealer?

One guy says the timing cover has to be removed to get at the leak and
this could be a problem if the bolts holding the cover are
corroded/frozen. In any event, it is not a simple job.

Any ideas?

 

Whoever says that the timing cover has to come off is thinking of the
O-ring leaks behind the timing case that can happen on a **3.5L**
engine, not a 3.3L engine. Very different beasts on the front end since
the 3.5 is a belt-timed SOHC and the 3.3 is a chain-timed pushrod engine.

Changing a water pump on a 3.3 is, actually, a pretty simple job.
Especially in a Concorde where its installed fore/aft instead of
transversely.

I would also not just ASSume that its the water pump although that is
certainly a likely candidate. It could be a loose upper or lower hose, a
leaky T-stat housing gasket, etc.

 

The water pump on the 3.3 is a very easy job to do, the timing chain cover
does not have to be removed to do the water pump. I would say about 2 hrs
labor.
However...... If the Timing Chain Case Cover Water Inlet to Cyl Block O Ring
is leaking then the timing chain cover has to be removed and the gaskets and
O-rings will have to be replaced. And if your gonna do that you may as well
have the crank seal and timing chain and gears replaced. about 4 to 5 hrs
labor with a coolant flush and oil change. parts, $200.00 to $300.00 rough
estimate

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Can there be problems with getting the timing chain cover off if the
bolts are frozen? How often does that happen?

And if your gonna do that you may as well

That makes perfect sense.

about 4 to 5 hrs

 

Or perhaps a Timing Chain Case Cover Water Inlet to Cyl Block O Ring.

 

Have never had that problem with siezed bolts... Im sure it can happen, but
if it needs to be taken off you gotta go for it!!!

 

Wow $60 per hr is way below what we pay here.

 

Who said something about $60 hr?

Glenn

 

I think Glenn said roughly $200 for parts to which you add the cost of 5
hours of labor.

Bob

 

njoracle wrote:

Perhaps- but its not particularly common on a 3.3, as the similar
O-rings are on a 3.5. I say "common" on the 3.5, but my own personal 3.5
has never had to have those O-rings replaced in 12 years and 240,000
miles....

 

I'm leaking about 1/2 gallon per month. So for $3 or $4 a month for
replacement coolant, why not just live with it?

 

Because ONE time of forgetting to refill it (or if it should happen to
get faster) will cost you a $2000 or more engine change, plus all the
time being without the car while the engine is replaced.

 

Sounds like a plan!!! when it decides to just let loose and spill it all out
on a cold raining day pull your reply back up and read it back to your self
over and over. I would get it fixed

Glenn

 

I have a computer program (Quicken) that reminds me to check the level
every two weeks so I'm not worried about forgetting. If it increases,
I'll check once a week. I'm retired so checking the coolant level gives
me something to do.

A local dealer (where I bought the car) wants $700 to do the work. With
125k mi, maybe it would better to do an engine change anyway.

 

Ripoff alert.

Why? Have you been neglecting maintenance that badly? Does is burn
oil by the drum? This makes no sense, but I've never known anyone
from Noo Joisey to make sense, anyway.

 

ground water contamination???

 

you can easily save 200.00-300.00 by not taking it to a dealer and going
somewhere else

 

Antifreeze breaks down very quickly in the ground - no chance for water
contamination. Not saying he doesn't need to fix the problem, but
ground water contamination is not a valid reason.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

I took it to a local garage and he found a second leak and fixed it. He
said there is still a leak associated with the seal but it is minor. He
asked me to drive it for a week and see how much the coolant goes down.
So far, in two days, it has gone down 1/8th of an inch.

 

you wanna try and tell that to the health department and dnr