Coolant Leak Help

[Dakine]

I just bought a 2000 Ranger XLT. On my 4th day owning it, I got to work and noticed it was leaking a lot of coolant from the bottom. I thought it was a hose at first, but upon further inspection, it appears to be the water pump, but it is hard for me to really find the source without taking parts out. I can fill up the reseviour and it stays full. But I am constantly having to put water directly into the radiator. It doesn't overheat, as long as I keep the radiator full before driving. My friend looked at it and thinks it is the water pump too. I am very limited on tools and also space to work on the truck. My questions are does this sound like the water pump or something more severe, and how much can I reasonably expect to pay to get this fixed, including labor, and also do I have any recourse on the person who sold me this truck? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Broncodude]

Have you cked the oil, hopefully its not weird looking and milky? Is the engine smoking any white smoke out the exhaust?

 

[Dakine]

No, I don't think it is the head, oil looks ok, and no smoke that I have noticed. It just drops all of its fluid after I drive it.

 

[Trigger]

Could be the water pump or the freeze plug right behind the water pump, had mine go out a couple years ago and it took awhile to figure it out, found it when I changed my water pump, freeze plug was all rusted, replaced it and all is well.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

why not just take the truck to a shop? if you want to know how much its going to cost, a shop will do a quote for you. a shop also has the propers tools/space to properly diagnose the problem (sorry, but sometimes it takes tools to diagnose issues). your going to have to take it to someone to get it fixed anyway, since it also takes tools to repair problems.

im honestly not trying to sound like a dick....i guess im just trying to figure out why youre here asking us when you cant diagnose or repair the problem yourself anyway?

 

[Trigger]

Gee I thought thats what these forums were for??