I need some help diagnosing and fixing a coolant leak on my 2004 Mustang V6 (3.9L).
The leak is coming from a metal coolant tube pressed into the water pump the small nipple that the short bypass hose connects to. It’s not the heater hose, not the thermostat housing, and not the water pump itself.
This exact metal tube in the photos is the problem. The mechanic told me it has an O-ring and is leaking where it presses into the timing cover. But I cannot find ANY replacement part that actually fits a Mustang. Every “bypass pipe” or “water pump tube” I look at is wrong, and after digging, I’m starting to think this tube isn’t sold separately at all.
So now I’m confused:
Is this coolant nipple press-fit from the factory and not a replaceable part?
Can I pull this tube out and replace just the O-ring, or do I need to fabricate/press in a new tube?
Has anyone successfully repaired this leak without replacing the entire timing cover?
What’s the best permanent fix?
Car is Pissing coolant only when warm/pressurized and drips right down.
Any advice from anyone who has fixed this exact issue on a 3.8/9L Essex V6 would be huge.