Water leak

[roughground]

The other day I had the unfortunate experience of the thermostat failing closed with a resultant over heat. I replaced the thermostat but now find I have a water leak from under the water pump cover. I thought it was a failed  gasket so have replaced them following the manual instructions about gasket thickness. I now find that the leak is from a slot in the block in which one can see the pump. I'll attach photos. Advice is sought. Do I take out the water pump ? Are their water seals on the O rings fitted?

[Andy Moltu]

Presumably the water pump seal has failed. The water comes out of the slot.

The other leak point is the o ring

[stevew2]

Water pump needs replacing I'm afraid

[roughground]

Many thanks. Correct, the pump seal had failed allowing water pass and out of the ventilation slot. The big problem I had was getting the pump out. Rimmers advertise a lh threaded nut with a loop on top to pull it out and also a professional tool in the form of a slide hammer with a lh treaded nut on it.  I tried the nut but it was could not get any force on it. The Professional tool  has been on back order since April. So I made my own by buying a slide hammer from Screwfix for £16 and welding the 2 nuts, that came with it, together and the lh threaded bolt. With considerable effort removed the pump from the engine.  As you can see the seal is shot. I hope this helps anyone out there faced with a similar problem.

Ps be very careful if trying to dismantle the pump to replace the seals. The rotor vane is quite fragile and breaks easily meaning a new pump!

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

On 9/17/2025 at 1:13 PM, roughground said:

Many thanks. Correct, the pump seal had failed allowing water pass and out of the ventilation slot. The big problem I had was getting the pump out. Rimmers advertise a lh threaded nut with a loop on top to pull it out and also a professional tool in the form of a slide hammer with a lh treaded nut on it.  I tried the nut but it was could not get any force on it. The Professional tool  has been on back order since April. So I made my own by buying a slide hammer from Screwfix for £16 and welding the 2 nuts, that came with it, together and the lh threaded bolt. With considerable effort removed the pump from the engine.  As you can see the seal is shot. I hope this helps anyone out there faced with a similar problem.

Ps be very careful if trying to dismantle the pump to replace the seals. The rotor vane is quite fragile and breaks easily meaning a new pump!

Well done 

It is not uncommon for the pump to break up in the block as you try to get it out 

Renewing the seal is as you say easy. So long as you can get the pump stripped down.  
 

Years bygone we used to sell a pump rebuild kit with gaskets, o rings seals and bearings. The challenge then was 6 or 12 vane pumps.  Only 12 vane were easily obtained and that meant a new pump cover was required to suit the different pump.   Adding serious costs.