Coolant pooled under parked VW
Asked by KrisiK Aug 10, 2016 at 09:16 AM about the 2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS Wagon
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Returned to parking lot to find a huge pool of liquid
under my car. Didn't see anything dripping from my
car so I started it up, drove a couple miles, stopped
for another errand, then started it again. Warning
light came on but the temperature looked good so i
drove the last two miles home. No coolant in
reservoir. Engine did not overheat. Blown hose?
How do I troubleshoot this before taking to a
mechanic? 2001 VW Jetta Wagon 4 cyl 2L
4 Answers
If you are taking it to a mechanic I wouldn't worry about troubleshooting it. Could be a hose, radiator, water pump or head gasket. Most likely in my opinion would be the water pump.
Thanks for the input, Bob. If it's something I can get to, I won't take it to the mechanic. Is there an order to how I should check what you listed? What makes you think it's the water pump? Btw, there was a sound before I parked the first time, kind of a rattle pop but I dismissed it as ground noise from entering the parking lot.
Water pumps have a bearing and seal. Of course these don't last forever and when they go they tend to start dripping out of a weep hole at the bottom of the pump. In severe cases they just go out and leak like crazy. Hoses do sometimes develop leaks, but this is not as common as it once was as hoses are of better quality now days. Fill up your cooling system and start the car, I'll bet you will quickly find the leak.
