Hey fellas, I ran into a DIY problem and would love some feedback.

I followed the Bentley book and this thread to replace my water pump: https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/how-to/210935-r56-drivetrain-diy-water-pump-replacement.html

It had been leaking slowly over time, but it got to the point where an entire bottle of 50/50 pre-mixed coolant was gone within 20 miles.

So I bought the replacement part from ECS Tuning, and I finally had time to work on it yesterday and today.

I did not have luck raising the engine enough to gain access to the pump. My floor jack wouldn't raise it enough.

I lowered it enough to access it from th wheel well, but only barely enough. I was reaching fingertips in, and it was a lot to manage.

Well after putting Humpty Dumpty back together again, I added coolant, and it began leaking immediately. I still had it up on jack stands with the passenger wheel off, and it looked like the leak was coming from the pump.

Any ideas what's going on? It's possible that since I couldn't get enough access to the part that I couldn't thoroughly enough clean the surface, and there is a leak from not having a clean surface.

But would there be another part that's leaking that I'm not aware of? Any help would be appreciated. I'm supposed to take this thing on a trip to NC in a week, and I really don't want to pay MINI way too much for a fix if I can do it or find a local mechanic who can for way less.

Thanks in advance!

 

If you went through the thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html

Sounds like you have a leak at the waterpump location that you just replaced ? making sure the Water pump connection is clean and that the gasket in on the pump. Also tighten down the bolts. Sounds like its one of those. If there was crud around the old pump connection and the gasket is not on or seated , or lifted from crud that might be your isssue.

Water Pump Part # 11517550484


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11518604888/





Here is a good DIY for the water pump and thermostat housing ( as well as the expansion tank up front ) :

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html

&

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...acement-3.html


Thanks

 

I took the part out and cleaned the surface again. Re-installed. Added coolant. And coolant came cascading out.

I can't tell exactly the point of the leak, but I took a video on my phone and moved it around trying to find out where.

The still frame from basically almost directly underneath the leak shows the leakage. It had pooled on the tips of a few screws and were forming 3 drip points. I also have a frame showing where the water pump is and how it's just fine.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm about to have to send it to a shop to see if they will touch it, and it's driving me crazy. I've been working on this for three days and hate giving up, especially if it means spending money.

 

Think its that water pipe behind it on that connection from water pipe to pump.

Looks like where its inserted its coming apart.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html

 

It just so happens I also ordered that part from you guys when getting the new pump.

I'm just going to get AAA to tow it to a mechanic's shop and have them do it. I can't get the access to the side of the engine to remove that at home. Hopefully they won't charge me an arm and a leg.

Thanks!

 

Ok, Yea you can get it from the top side and you will have to pop off the thermostat housing to pull it out.

Yea, looks like its cracked or damaged at the connection from the waterpipe to the waterpump housing.

 

If you take the thermostat housing off you can slide it out that side of the engine bay fairly easily. The water-pump side just pushes in. It's physically captured on the thermostat side.

 

Hmm, well the quote was $400 for the mechanics to do this job. On a scale of 1-10, how bad is the thermostat housing side?

 

Its about a 4-5 , but I dont know your skill level. Its not really hard , its just takes time .

 

I'll give it a whack then. I have the part. If I can't get it tonight, then I'll just send it to the mechanic. Rather not spend $400 when I've replaced the HPFP, timing chain tensioner, and other parts myself already.

 

Is there anything specifically that I n Ed to do for the water pipe when I install it to help seal off any potential leaks? The body of information specific to this part seems pretty scarce, and I can't find anything in my Bentley book.

 

Pipe is out, and I will upload a photo later to show where the entire section with the o ring is gone.

Isn't there supposed to be a metal clip holding the pipe onto the thermostat? MINI replaced my thermostat recently - it blew up on a road trip and I couldn't fix - which would have involved disconnecting the water pipe.

I'm thinking they left it out, and perhaps they did something to deteriorate the other side that is broken/gone.

And how do I get a new clip? ECS sell them?

 

Sounds like they lost the clip ? , There is a metal clip on the water pipe side at the connection from the thermostat to the waterpipe.

Linked above and here.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8-no-heat.html

11537548652

 

Water pipe info and DIY :

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...stat-pipe.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rmostat-6.html