1991 L98 waterpump leaking?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Springdale South Carolina
1991 L98 waterpump leaking?
Have owned my 91 for about 8 months. It has sat in the garage since December until today. Took it out for a short ride to find a small antifreeze puddle (maybe a 12 oz coffee cup size)on the passengers side about right under the waterpump would drip at onto garage floor where it is parked at.
Not sure if its the water pump or not, ran out of time to look but will. Maybe the hoses are loose?
Is there any online info for procedure of replacing the water pumps for my 91. I have not worked on a corvette before and im a bit intimidated with the fuel injection lines that might need to be removed if needed? I do have the red service manual and will look it over as well.
Thanks for your input!
Drew
Not sure if its the water pump or not, ran out of time to look but will. Maybe the hoses are loose?
Is there any online info for procedure of replacing the water pumps for my 91. I have not worked on a corvette before and im a bit intimidated with the fuel injection lines that might need to be removed if needed? I do have the red service manual and will look it over as well.
Thanks for your input!
Drew
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 497
Likes: 1
I had a similar problem on my 85.. id go for a short ride. Coolant would be leaking. Id go for a long ride it would not leak. I assumed this to be since it didn't warm up 100% the material didn't expand. Or something. But after $20 in coolant and putting new hoses on, I got fed up and torn it apart (that doesn't sound like much but its aggreivating.) Turned out my water pump bolts were hardly tight. So I got a new pump since everything was apart. Fixed. Tighted bolts with some locktite. Been good ever since.
Edit: disconnect the fuel lines. (Vent out first) reconnect and before you start it let the fuel pump run for a sec. Turn the key off and then it should be good to start.
One thing I do recommend is fixing it soon. Coolant being on your cradle can be like glue to rocks and dirt. Its a real piece of junk to take it alllllllll apart to clean. When your done you'll be dirtier than your cradle was. Also you'll need some new vertibre.
Edit: disconnect the fuel lines. (Vent out first) reconnect and before you start it let the fuel pump run for a sec. Turn the key off and then it should be good to start.
One thing I do recommend is fixing it soon. Coolant being on your cradle can be like glue to rocks and dirt. Its a real piece of junk to take it alllllllll apart to clean. When your done you'll be dirtier than your cradle was. Also you'll need some new vertibre.
Last edited by DHobbs; Mar 10, 2013 at 06:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Springdale South Carolina
good advice from you both. Looks like ill have time this weekend to do some looking. Garage space is tightin my 1 car garage with my car in place. Im looking forward to finding it. Im guessing its going to be a heaterbypass hose(does it have one?) or radiator hose connection. Hoses look pretty good.
Any other ideas where to look? Seems like the drip is near the front area of the water pump more towards the pasengers side. But could be running down from somewhere else to the lowest point to drip.
Drew
Any other ideas where to look? Seems like the drip is near the front area of the water pump more towards the pasengers side. But could be running down from somewhere else to the lowest point to drip.
Drew
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
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From: WV
You say its leaking while its sitting, so take a sheet of paper towel, fold it up into a small square and stuff it under the weep hole on the waterpump.. If you come out and the towel is wet then its the pump going bad..This is a quick and easy method to find a leak....WW
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Victoria Australia
Just like Dhobb, my 1990 does this. If you start it to back it out to of the garage then shut it down again or open the radiator cap it will leak a little. However if I go for a longish drive 5-10minutes and park it no leaks what so ever. I had my top end engine freshen up and mentioned to my mechanic if the water pump looks bad or showed signs of leaking to change it. He did not find anything wrong with it.
I have a genuine water pump ready to go but I am a little nervous myself. Have done injectors myself but looking at the procedure, the AC bracket needs to come off before one can get to the water pump mount bolts.
Drew,
Is the leak constant that is, be it a short start/stop or after a long drive. If its constantly leaking I would go ahead and change it. Another tip avoid cheap water pumps as many have had to redo it within 6 months.
I have a genuine water pump ready to go but I am a little nervous myself. Have done injectors myself but looking at the procedure, the AC bracket needs to come off before one can get to the water pump mount bolts.
Drew,
Is the leak constant that is, be it a short start/stop or after a long drive. If its constantly leaking I would go ahead and change it. Another tip avoid cheap water pumps as many have had to redo it within 6 months.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Springdale South Carolina
ok thanks everyone! I took the corvette out this morning to look for a leak and have found nothing so far. The pan I had under the car had about 3 small drops in it from sitting a week. Im going to keep my pan under it and watch my aussie when he is in the garage so he wont be tempted to lick the antifreeze, lost another dog years ago(different car in long term storage) from the same thing. Guess im more scared of loosing my best fur buddy than a leak. I tightened the hoses up a bit and im going for a ride since its 75 degrees and sunny today!
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
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Found this writeup on water pump replacement in the "stickies" listed above:https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=54&TopicID=2
Found this writeup on water pump replacement in the "stickies" listed above:https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=54&TopicID=2
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