Guess we have the old type.
Water pump replacement
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
From: Valley Center CA
Water pump replacement
I developed a sudden coolant leak with no real warning. No noise or overheating. My vette was not even running warmer that normal. Thinking I might have water pump issues. Car has 140k miles now. Going to check and see if its just a cracked hose. Leak drips when vette is parked. Looks like its coming near the top outlet.
Done a lot of reading of old threads on how to replace it myself. Looks pretty straight forward. Going to get a new pump and thermostat from Napa most likely. I do have a question on filling the coolant system once I put the new pump on. Do you just add the new coolant through the overflow or do i need to fill the radiator first. I worried about air in the system. Any and every bit of advise would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
Done a lot of reading of old threads on how to replace it myself. Looks pretty straight forward. Going to get a new pump and thermostat from Napa most likely. I do have a question on filling the coolant system once I put the new pump on. Do you just add the new coolant through the overflow or do i need to fill the radiator first. I worried about air in the system. Any and every bit of advise would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 25
From: Blue Ridge Georgia
I suggest buying a 04 pump. I think it's a better pump. Here's the filling details.
Start w/ a cold engine
Remove rad. cap
Idle for 1 minute
Install cap
Cycle RPM from idle to 3000 until coolant reaches 210F
Shut off engine
Remove cap
Start engine
Idle for 1 minute
Install cap
Cycle RPM from idle to 3000 until coolant reaches 210F
Shut off engine
Remove cap
Top off
Start w/ a cold engine
Remove rad. cap
Idle for 1 minute
Install cap
Cycle RPM from idle to 3000 until coolant reaches 210F
Shut off engine
Remove cap
Start engine
Idle for 1 minute
Install cap
Cycle RPM from idle to 3000 until coolant reaches 210F
Shut off engine
Remove cap
Top off
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Here is some helpful info too! A good write-up
(even though you are not doing a Electri Water Pump, priciples are the same)
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=27
Thanks,Matt
(even though you are not doing a Electri Water Pump, priciples are the same)http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=27
Thanks,Matt
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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I have a capless radiator too
... in all seriousness there is no radiator cap, you fill the whole system through the cap on the overflow tank
... in all seriousness there is no radiator cap, you fill the whole system through the cap on the overflow tank
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill Ca.
Actually, I fill mine through the radiator hose first! Pull the hose off the water pump, Remove the little hose from the head vents (throttle body) and fill the system until you get coolant out the vents and radiator. Eliminates air bubbles from being trapped in the heads when filling. Connect hoses fill the tank to the line, start car and bring up to temprature. vary the speed slightly. shut down and let cool. When cool check fluid level add as necessary and take er out for a good spirited run let cool down check the following day and add coolant as necessary.
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Actually, I fill mine through the radiator hose first! Pull the hose off the water pump, Remove the little hose from the head vents (throttle body) and fill the system until you get coolant out the vents and radiator. Eliminates air bubbles from being trapped in the heads when filling. Connect hoses fill the tank to the line, start car and bring up to temprature. vary the speed slightly. shut down and let cool. When cool check fluid level add as necessary and take er out for a good spirited run let cool down check the following day and add coolant as necessary.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
you can just as easily do this with no mess and less time by filling it through the overflow tank and running the car at idle with the cap off until the fans cycle a few times, all the air will work it's way out and then you can top it off as needed and cap it... I've done mine this way a handful of times and never had a problem
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
You could easily burn yourself. Let the engine cool down first before removing.