I have a 96 Grand and GT with the 2.4L engine. Lately I have had an intermittent coolant leak which happens 1 or 2 times a week while the car is parked. The size of the leak started out to be about basketball size in diameter but lately has gotten bigger. I am having to add fluid to the reservoir about every 2 weeks. My mechanic put the car on a lift and shined a flashlight on the bottom of the water pump said I was having "weepage" as evidenced by some brownish residue on a valve at the bottom of the water pump and said I would need a new water pump and quoted a price around $460. I have lived with this leak for approximately the last 13,000 miles and need to get it fixed. I can find some references about "weepage" online and all point to the water pump but they also say that when a water pimp starts weeping in also flushes out the lubricant on the bearings/shaft. Is it reasonable to assume from the above description that I do need a new water pump and if so is the quoted price fair?
Thanks in advance, Jim