Hey members,

I have a 99 c5 and I recently had to take my car to the dealership for a steering column lock issue. The dealership said they assessed everything else on the car and said that I was going to need to replace my water pump soon. Then the service guy stated it would be $800 to complete the job. I was like whoa, hold off on that so i can see if it can be done myself. Can anyone offer information on what all that the dealership would be doing that would make the job $800? Am I being taken to the cleaners or does it sound legit to any of you?

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

My local dealer quoted $600 for a water pump change about six months ago.

So I decided to do it myself, about $220 for the pump and $10 for the gaskets.

Change the thermostat while you are at it, make sure the thermostat is compatable with the new pump before leaving the parts house. Another $30 or so.

I used rubber bands to hold the gaskets and bolts in place until bolts were started (two bolts out of three each side), then cut and removed the rubber bands. String tied around two of the bolts on each side might work better.

About 2- 2 1/2 hours.

You think the coolant is fairly well drained by draining the radiator, but when the pump comes off, more comes out. Be prepared for a mop up.

 

$997 for waterpump, tstat and throttle position sensor, parts and labor from a local shop, not a dealer. My water pump blew and I had to get it replaced asap. Since it spewed engine coolant everywhere it messed up the tps. I wish I had waited and put in an electric pump

edit- they also did a coolant flush and pressure test

 

Had mine replaced at the dealer about a year ago and was 560.00 total for parts and labor and they also did a coolant flush since a good amount of the coolant had to be drained anyway. You can get away with about half that if you DIY. Heres a great DIY writeup on how to do it. I hope it helps. Good luck bro!

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/genera...cement-c5.html

 

So, the dealer gets about $370 for 2 hours of work; that's $185/hour. Dang, we are in the wrong business!

 

That is the way I saw it, plus I figured I would be more careful.

 

DIY!!!! I just replaced my water pump, Gatorback belt, and coolant recovery tank all for under $200!! Amazon- Bosch water pump, brand new...$108.00 shipped, Gatorback belt, 25.00, Rock Auto.. coolant recovery tank, $50.00. Flushed and bled the system myself. All you need is an afternoon.

 

That's what I'm talking about

 

ever tried an electrical pump? how do you like it? which one?

TIA

 

EXTREMELY easy repair with a pain in the a$$ set of gaskets.
If the brains at GM would have used a stud instead of bolts, this would be a 30 minute job, add 10 -15 minutes for the proper thermostat.
The gasket issue is absolutely moronic but the rubber band idea or using a little dab of permatex and letting it dry will help out.
I paid $98 from advanced auto for the pump, $15 for the thermostat with housing, 2 gallons of dexcool at 12.99 each, and 2 gallons of distilled agua @ .79 each from wal-the-mart (already had an old tube of permatex)..knocked it out in less than 2 hours (that included lunch break)

 

What kind of miles do you guys have that you are replacing water pumps?

I know one can go at anytime, but there must be a typical mileage figure that you can expect this, right?

 

Heck of a savings by doing it yourself.

 

Mine started to leak when the harmonic balancer started to go bad and began to slightly wobble. The added movement will force the bearing on the waterpump to move out of it's orafice ever so slightly...just enough to make it leak. That's what happened in my case OR one of the gaskets gave....Usually the bearing. (the harmonic balancer is only one of the reasons for the issue) Age (mine gave at 45k), etc...

 

I'd be asking them why they think the water pump is failing. have your temperatures begun to rise? Are you getting leaks or noises? If not it may be a scam.

If you decide to go ahead it seems like an easy fix from the procedure

Document ID# 642894
2002 Chevrolet Corvette
________________________________________
Water Pump Replacement
Removal Procedure



1. Remove the air cleaner intake duct.
2. Remove the accessory drive belt. Refer to Drive Belt Replacement - Accessory in Engine Mechanical - 5.7L.
3. Drain the cooling system. Refer to Draining and Filling Cooling System .


4. Reposition the inlet and outlet hose clamps at the water pump.
5. Remove the inlet and outlet hoses from the water pump.


6. Reposition the heater inlet and surge tank outlet hose clamps at the water pump.
7. Remove the heater inlet and surge tank outlet hoses from the water pump.


8. Remove the water pump bolts.


9. Remove the water pump.
10. Remove the water pump gaskets.
11. Clean and inspect the water pump. Refer to Water Pump Cleaning and Inspection in Engine Mechanical - 5.7L Unit Repair.
Installation Procedure

1. Install the water pump and gaskets to the engine block.
Notice
Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.
2. Install the water pump bolts.
Tighten
a. Tighten the water pump bolts a first pass to 15 N•m (11 lb ft).
b. Tighten the water pump bolts a final pass to 30 N•m (22 lb ft).
c.
3. Install the heater inlet and surge tank outlet hoses to the water pump.
4. Position the heater inlet and surge tank outlet hose clamps at the water pump.
5. Install the inlet and outlet hoses to the water pump.
6. Position the inlet and outlet hose clamps at the water pump.
7. Install the accessory drive belt. Refer to Drive Belt Replacement - Accessory in Engine Mechanical - 5.7L.
8. Fill the cooling system. Refer to Draining and Filling Cooling System .
9. Install the air cleaner intake duct.