Dead water pump?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 931
Likes: 3
From: Portland OR
Dead water pump?
I haven't posted in a while, I rarely drive my car these days.
I was out a while ago and the low coolant light came on, when I got home I added water and coolant. I noticed some fluids under the car.
I parked in and just today went back out.
I noticed some wetness under the crank pulley. And the hose going to the water pump is a little wet.
Do I have a bad hose or is the pump shot? When the pump goes does it leak?
I've got about 130k miles so it's not fresh. It's a 1995 LT1. I'm not excited about replacing a water pump but if I have to I have to.
I was out a while ago and the low coolant light came on, when I got home I added water and coolant. I noticed some fluids under the car.
I parked in and just today went back out.
I noticed some wetness under the crank pulley. And the hose going to the water pump is a little wet.
Do I have a bad hose or is the pump shot? When the pump goes does it leak?
I've got about 130k miles so it's not fresh. It's a 1995 LT1. I'm not excited about replacing a water pump but if I have to I have to.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,216
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
While it's cold, stick your hand under the water pump and feel the bottom of it. If your hand comes out wet, it's pump time and probably a good time for an Opti too. When the pump goes, it will pee on the opti and antifreeze has a way of getting in there every time. With as many miles as you have on it, I'd say you have had very good service from it, but it's time has come.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: Vacaville Ca
I recommend going the Meziere electrical pump route. I did that on my 96 so now when and if it leaks it wont drip on the opti. Plus its way easier to change out in the future. Also check that spline drive coming out of the timing cover. The coupling on mine was stripped inside so it wasn't turning the water pump very much at all. That was another reason to go the Meziere pump. You can use your old housing with the supplied freeze plug. If you get a reman pump like the delco, you will need a slightly larger freeze plug fyi. There is a thread on it in the sticky section.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,216
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
I went the electric water pump route also and love the results. The pump pushes the water through the engine and radiator at a constant speed regardless of engine RPM. Stays cool if I'm sitting at a red light or cruising across West Texas rapidly. Also fixed Two possible future leaks. By plugging the water pump drive shaft hole, there is no chance of an oil leak there any more, and the electric pump won't hose my opti if it should ever go bad.
Last edited by Klondike; Feb 22, 2015 at 08:19 PM. Reason: 3rd grade spellin'
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
I would never go that far on and not replace the seals on the timing chain cover; the water pump seal and opti seal can be done in the car; you might, if the crank seal is NOT leaking, take a chance and leave it be since replacing the crank seal requires removal of the harmonic balancer and crank hub....not terribly difficult...but will require a bit (or a lot more) more labor....of course, if the timing chain cover is off, time to look at the timing chain, as in, replace it now, it's a pin and link style and guaranteed to have "stretched" by now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 931
Likes: 3
From: Portland OR
Timing chain is probably not pretty but I just need it to run occasionally. I doubt I put on 1000 miles a year now. I don't want to dump too much into the engine as I'd like to drop an LSx in some day.
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: Vacaville Ca
I was kinda lazy and left the shaft sticking out. I just avoided taking the damper off and the cover as well. That makes it a whole nother project than just a water pump deal. Thats if you wanna keep your pump drive and all. My car had 130k on it. The coupling was dead though.
Yea that color is awesome!
Yea that color is awesome!