Water Pump Replacement ..........
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Water Pump Replacement ..........
I finally got my C4 inspected and went to the store then home. I backed up the car into the garage and midway up coolant started leaking all out. It is hard to see where it is leaking from but it is in the front middle part of the engine. I believe it to be ther water pump. There is no white smoke comming out of the exhaust.
I have worked on brakes and general stuff on cars for years. Does anyone have any advise as far as the difficultly of replacing it? And does it sound like the water pump? I can read REMFG written on the old pump so not new. A parts place says that I need to be driving it more often to offset repairs. In the last year I drove it maybe 1K. Is this an issue?
Thanks.
I have worked on brakes and general stuff on cars for years. Does anyone have any advise as far as the difficultly of replacing it? And does it sound like the water pump? I can read REMFG written on the old pump so not new. A parts place says that I need to be driving it more often to offset repairs. In the last year I drove it maybe 1K. Is this an issue?
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,736
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From: Reno Nevada
Life Starts at 120 mph
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 190
From: Upstate New York
NCM Lifetime Member
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I replaced mine, nothing to be afraid of. Advise you take lots of digital photos as you take things apart, mostly electrical connections, so that you get them right. It saved me. I completed the job, but it would not fire, start. Looked at the photos and compared them to what I had done, and bingo, I had the coil connection on wrong...Dohhh!
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 390
Mine went at about 51,000 miles with my '91 two years ago. I had my local Chevy dealer fix it for me. Total was $411, with new serpentine belt, and taxes included. It was a new, not remanufactured, AC Delco water pump. The work was dealer warranteed, parts/labor, for 12 months. No more issues after that.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,305
Likes: 240
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
That being said, the leak is generally very slow, so if yours leaks fast, I would be looking for a split hose or loose clamp, at or near pump.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Since you didn't specify a year... The L98s have a throttle body heater hose that is more likely to be your problem. It connects from the front of the intake manifold to the bottom of the throttle body.
If you do replace your water pump you'll have to remove the AC compressor mounting bracket because it's bolted to the water pump. That's fun... I don't know if it's possible, but it might come off if you remove the two nuts on the water pump bolts and the hidden bolt under the compressor that goes into the head. After doing that, the compressor and bracket might come off as a unit. Another fun aspect of this is that the fuel lines go through the compressor bracket. Maybe you can tell that I just did this last week...
My water pump was fine after 27 years and 116K miles but I replaced it with a Stewart "while I was in there" -- replacing a timing chain and a few other things.
If you do replace your water pump you'll have to remove the AC compressor mounting bracket because it's bolted to the water pump. That's fun... I don't know if it's possible, but it might come off if you remove the two nuts on the water pump bolts and the hidden bolt under the compressor that goes into the head. After doing that, the compressor and bracket might come off as a unit. Another fun aspect of this is that the fuel lines go through the compressor bracket. Maybe you can tell that I just did this last week...
My water pump was fine after 27 years and 116K miles but I replaced it with a Stewart "while I was in there" -- replacing a timing chain and a few other things.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Water pump issue.....
Mine is a 1996 vette. Interesting about the weep hole being a slow leak it leak out about a 2 foot circle in seconds. So I am off next week will double check the hoses. At first glance I could not see a leak around the hoses. When I squeezed the upper radiator hose could here an air leak sound not sure if a weep hole would make this sound.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I have had water pumps go bad and leak slowly, but have also had one go all at once and dump coolant everywhere. If you want to see if its the waterpump leaking, place a folded paper towel directly under the weep hole of the pump. Then start and run the car up to temperture.. If the paper towel if soaked with coolant then you have your answer....WW
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 551
Likes: 23
From: Wills Point Texas
I agree with WW7. My '92 w/50K started leaking slowly. Took a towel and wiped the weep hole clean with brake cleaner then ran it for awhile. I then took a mirror and looked up at the weep hole sure enough saw it had leaked. Replaced the water pump and I was good to go.
Don't wait long or your going to be replacing the Opti also.
Don't wait long or your going to be replacing the Opti also.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
As far as what you saw on the garage floor, what happens is that the coolant is leaked onto the serpentine belt and then thrown around the engine bay, it will pool in places and then come down.
Also check your hoses of course, and replacing them while the coolant is out is probably a good idea.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,777
Likes: 5
From: Wichita Ks
It is all right here! Watch the video and you can do it!
How To: Water Pump Replacement LT1 - YouTube
How To: Water Pump Replacement LT1 - YouTube
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
One thing some will attest to, let those little problems go on too long and you will be sorry.
And Cliff hit the nail when he replaced other parts while they are accessible.
Sure your gonna be hurting for cash for a few paychecks but the cost is worth ridding yourself of the hassle later on.
And Cliff hit the nail when he replaced other parts while they are accessible.
Sure your gonna be hurting for cash for a few paychecks but the cost is worth ridding yourself of the hassle later on.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
1996 vette water pump .........
I had the car towed to the shop today. They already called and said the pump was bad. They also recommend replacing the thermostat, which was a whooping 200 bucks for parts and labor. I told them to skip this. They were going to replace it cause the engine could have overheated. I never drove it anywhere except to move it to the road for the guy towing it.
They also said to replace the radiator hoses as well and said the heater hoses looked ok I told them to replace them. Total cost for all of this was 800.00 does this sound too much. They only use gm parts and are all new.
They also said to replace the radiator hoses as well and said the heater hoses looked ok I told them to replace them. Total cost for all of this was 800.00 does this sound too much. They only use gm parts and are all new.