So, I put another 1,800 miles on the 960 this week driving around Ca, and up to Montana, and in the process I had a coolant leak emerge. Strange thing was that the leak showed up on the first day and then never came back. It was a very minor leak, and appeared to be coming from somewhere underneath and forward of the water pump (it was dripping out of the left lower corner of the plastic cover that goes over the timing belt) I wiped everything up and then proceeded to drive roughly 1,000 more miles through traffic, hills, heat and cold, and everything is still totally dry. Could this have been some sort of freak incident with the water pump weep-hole? or is the volvo attempting to give me an early warning that something bad is about to happen??

 

It probably is the water pump. I've seen it with other Volvos. I'm not sure about the 960 but the 940s have the seal seep when cold then swell upas it warmsand close the leak.

 

Look around the thermostat housing. See if you can see if it was leaking from there. Depending on the coolant in there some kind of like corode and leave marks.

 

nothing around the housing, and I have not had the issue arise again (it's now been over a week). kind of stumped. On a plus note, new struts are going in on wednesday.

 

Just watch it and see what happens.