Possible Causes:
* Water Pump Seal: This is the most probable cause. A failing water pump seal allows coolant to leak out. Because the water pump is behind the harmonic balancer, the leak might manifest as dripping from around the balancer itself.
* Front Crankshaft Seal: This seal prevents oil from leaking out, but a leak *can* sometimes appear as water if the coolant is mixing with oil (creating a milky substance). It's less likely to be purely water.
* Improperly Installed Harmonic Balancer: While less common, if the balancer was recently replaced and not installed correctly, it could create a leak path. However, this usually results in more of an oil leak than a water leak.
* Cracked Engine Block (less likely): In severe cases, a crack in the engine block near the water pump could cause a leak that appears to originate from the balancer area. This is a much more serious and expensive problem.
Why This is Dangerous:
* Overheating: Coolant loss leads to overheating, which can severely damage your engine.
* Engine Damage: Overheating can warp cylinder heads, crack blocks, and ruin pistons.
* Mixing of Oil and Coolant: If the leak involves the crankshaft seal, oil and coolant will mix. This contaminates both and leads to catastrophic engine failure if not addressed.
What You Should Do:
1. STOP DRIVING THE CAR IMMEDIATELY: Continuing to drive with a coolant leak will almost certainly cause irreparable engine damage.
2. Inspect the Area Carefully: Try to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. Look closely at the water pump, the area around the crankshaft seal, and the harmonic balancer itself.
3. Check Coolant Level: Examine your coolant reservoir. A low coolant level confirms the leak.
4. Take it to a Mechanic: This is not a DIY job unless you have extensive experience with engine repair. A mechanic can properly diagnose the problem and perform the necessary repairs. Ignoring this will likely result in a much more expensive repair later.
The repair will likely involve replacing the water pump (likely the culprit), possibly the crankshaft seal, and potentially other components depending on the diagnosis. It's best to address this quickly to avoid further and more expensive damage.
