I started to notice a hot/burnedanti-freeze smell when i get out of the car. I noticed that my coolant is low, and I can’t locate a leak.

Does anyone know common places where a leak can occur on Xs? It seems it is a small enough not to notice or drip, but it definitely loosing fluid. (i can smell it! )

Thanks in advance!

 

Thanks BO. Will check today.

 

Also look down between battery and engine where the little drive belt is. That's the water pump. They get leaky alot too. I love x type water pumps.

 

the coolant bottle.. leaks as well also oring on aluminum pipe on the right side of engine

 

FJT i think you are right about the pump, although it might be hoses too. I took some pictures, please take a look:
This is from under the car

Another from under the car, maybe it's leaking from these hoses?

This one is from the top, cant see much, but there is some coolant there

If it is a water pump, what should i do to fix it? Is it another seal or do you replace the whole thing?
Also, i noticed my A/C turns on and off all the time.. 10 sec ON and then 10 sec. OFF. While heat or no heat is on.
I appreciate all of your help.

 

You need to get system pressure tested to be sure. If water pump, you replace pump and gasket. Without pressure test, hard to say as it also looks like coming from thermostat housing.

 

Thanks FJT. I will take it in to check.

BO, did you fix your leak yourself?

 

My money is on the water pump.

 

Thanks everyone for the input. Will check the source of the problem soon. I am planning to fix it myself, fun project and save some $$$. Will keep informed.

 

FJT- Are there water-pump issues on select engines i.e. the 2.5L that you know of?

Also w/a wp issue, shouldn't he be noticing the car running hot i.e. temperature needle? If this is so, do not run that engine till you replace that wp.

 

Car's temp is fine... but i am worried about loosing coolant, but seems to me leak is stopping once it reaches certain lowpoint.

 

Will not overheat. The water pump is circulating coolant. Just seeps out from seal.

Pump is issue on both engines, 2.5 or 3.0
Like I said though, get system pressure tested to find leak.

 

If the wp fails, you'll most definitely overheat.

I think my question is more geared towards what fails in the wp? Seems though you are indicating the rubber seals in which it is attached?

I ask b/c 2.5L duratec has a very common wp impeller issue. The impeller is plastic and likes to crack and soon w/the pressure breaks into several pieces. I guess if the jag's wp impeller is metallic, this would indicate a non-impeller issue.

 

The X-Type water pump has plastic impellar. However, that doesn't usually fail. The metal gasket between water pump and the eingine block is what starts to leak. Maybe something to do with disimilar metals heating and cooling at different rates over time. Anyway, point was the gasket is what leaks, so no overheat concern because the impeller still circulating the coolant. Also have seen the internal seal of water pump leak. If you look at pump, it is a two piece. Where the pieces bolt together, the seal there leaks also.
Easy to replace pump. Remove battery, take of belt. Unbolt and replace. Piece of cake and pays good for us.

 

How come the whole thing needsto be replacedif it's only a seal that leaks? Can the seal be replaced?

 

Yes the rear seal, not the intermediate seal. If intermediate seal fails, replace pump.

 

I'd check the waterpump.
But clean the engine bay, top and bottom, as best as possible. Put the car on jackstands, and open the hood. Get a friend (if possible) to watch the top of the engine bay, while you crawl under the engine bay with a drop light. Start the car, and before too long, after carefully watching, you should see where it's coming from.
That's how I found out where my leak was coming from, and it was the water pump. They're $70 just about anywhere you look. Several of my local places had them in stock, and it took less than 10 minutes to change out.

 

Yep. Always verify source of leak prior to shotgunning it with parts.