91 Ls400 Overheating

[bssybeep]

A few months back I bought a 2001 Miata which I started driving pretty much everyday (fun car btw). So I parked my 91 LS400 (~105k miles) to give it a rest. I usually drove it once/twice every other week to keep things flowing. A few days ago while sitting at a light I noticed my temp gauge was pegged all the way at the top. When I got home and checked under the hood some steam was coming out and I could see some dampness under the crank.

Today I had time to remove the bottom plastic dust/rock cover hoping it was just a hose leaking. But it appears the leaking is coming from a hole below the crank pulley. If I remember correctly, it was a weep hole for when the water pump seals went? I had some questions:

1.Does my problem appear to be the water pump?

2.Since my car had pretty low miles and even when I did drive it daily, it wasn't very far, I'm surprised the water pump went so soon, is this a common problem?

3.Having the car sit after using it daily, could this have caused any problems or was this failure a coincidence?

4.Anything else for me to check/consider?

Thanks in advance

[RFeldes]

Did you do the 90k service, which includes the water pump?

[bssybeep]

Did you do the 90k service, which includes the water pump?

Hmmm, I didn't. So the water pump is part of the 90K service? So basically I guess it was time for it to go?

[LScott400]

I had the same problem. It actually turned out to be leakage from the thermostat housing seal.