Coolant leak..can anyone help a young chick?

Hi im really new to mechanical stuff.
But i have a coolant leak. It only leaks when the car has been
moving. Its not alot but its not the smallest amount either. I keep
having to top up the overfill container (again sorry if these arent
the right terms or sound stupidly uncomplex). When i look from the
front of the car it looks like its near the drivers side wheel. Its no
where in the middle. My brother is a plant mechanic and he thought it
was just a heater hose and was goin to replace it. But wasnt sure if
he could because its very different to his falcon, and i think the
heater hose looks to far away from the leak. Btw my car is a Hyundai
scoupe oct 92/93 (the first of the 93 model) nd im aussie
If anyone could help me it would be appreciated alot.
Thanks

 

It'll be much easer to find if the car is on a lift. From under the car,
you can often see the source of the leak. Heater hose junctions with the
coolant pipes are a frequent source. Also check the water pump. If
you're looking from the top, you'll probably have the best luck inspecting
with a telescoping mirror to enable you to see the bottom of the water pump
snout.

 

Thanks Hyundaitech
Bad news.Yesterday when I reversed it the coolant had leaked
overnight. In a big puddle and I put a towel down afterwards, and a
couple of hours later it was soaked. I got underneath the car and I
can see something that a belt runs on and this is where the coolant is
leaking, its dripping off it. But I cant see anything from the top. I
suspect a water pump but really I have no knowledge of cars.
Today or very soon I am getting it checked by a mechanic so i should
no what it is soon. ....Hopefully

 

That sounds like a leak from the water pump. When you get it replaced,
your mechanic should also replace the timing belt at the same time, and
possibly the timing belt tensioner pulley if it's getting worn. Also any
other drive belts that are worn, since all have to be removed anyways
to get at the water pump.

I wouldn't recommend driving the car at this point, because you're losing
way too much coolant, and you run the risk of overheating the engine.

Bob

 

sounds like your water pumps gone...

 

Yep its the water pump, and nah im not driving it. The timing belt was
replaced in 2001...so it’d be a good idea to get it changed? as well
as the others??
Thanks heaps guys

 

How much mileage have you put on the car since then? The timing belt
should be changed every 60K miles.

" as well as the others??

Can't hurt if they haven't been changed in a while.

 

only 20 000k’s

 

Belts, even timing belts, are fairly cheap, so unless money is a
real issue and you need to watch every penny, I'd replace it
because it's been exposed to hot coolant which probably didn't
damage it, but why take the chance? The other belts can be
reused, because you'll know when they start to fail, and they're
very easy to replace when they do.

Bob

 

Ok the Water Pump has been replaced. The mechanic wasnt such a big fan
of the car afterwards, and i learnt some new swear words :lol:. But
yeh finally shes running good. It actually seems quieter too which is
prolbly just me imagining things.. :? But yeh thanks 2 every1 who
helped me "ALOT!"
Cheers Anna. "You guys all rock! "