Finally, success!

Instead of taking apart everything, I only attached the compression tool and pumped it up to operating pressure at 18lbs. I looked under the car and sure enough there is dripping straight down the middle and one dripping in front of it. One was a loose hose on the water pump, put an end to one of them. The second one took a while longer to track down. I could see the direction the stream was travelling down the block but couldn't see the source. Seeing as I have been encountering a lot of loose parts, I started checking the bolts holding the water pump to the block. Sure enough, at least 2 are loose enough to constitue 3 or so half turns with a wrench. Once they are tight I brought the pressure back to 18lbs and it held steady, and the stream stopped. Fired it up, filled with coolant and went through the bleeding procedure. Now the fans are kicking on. I thought they were before but now I can really hear them and the temp drops down fast. Idle temp is a litle bit above the half way and highway speeds never go past the final white tick mark.

What I think happened; installing the new rad cap that can do 18lbs instead of the broke one caused weaker elements of the coolant system to show their faces. Now there are no leaks, but I am already setting aside money for a new water pump and hoses because I can already tell that as time goes on more will fail. I am just glad I have a way to get around until then. Thanks again for the help guys, I hope others can reference this thread for good info on my problem.

 

Nice work! It is so hard to see stuff on these cars when working at home. Hopefully you are good to go.

 

So the water pump was leaking?!?! Let's just hope and pray that your opti is still in good working order!

 

i think he said the water pump gasket was leaking. gaskets are on the sides of the opti so should not have got it. good deal man back in business.