Water Pump Life
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Water Pump Life
Okay, I think I have a water pump leak on my 02 Z. The car has about 33k miles on it. This is hard for me to believe but it seems to be pretty much the way these pumps are, short lived. I am going to rent a pressure tester tomorrow and test the system to find the leak.
If you have had a water pump problem, how many miles did you have on your pump when it started giving problems?
Was it indeed a pump problem or was it a gasket problem?
Thanks for any help.
Eddie
If you have had a water pump problem, how many miles did you have on your pump when it started giving problems?
Was it indeed a pump problem or was it a gasket problem?
Thanks for any help.
Eddie
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Okay, I think I have a water pump leak on my 02 Z. The car has about 33k miles on it. This is hard for me to believe but it seems to be pretty much the way these pumps are, short lived. I am going to rent a pressure tester tomorrow and test the system to find the leak.
If you have had a water pump problem, how many miles did you have on your pump when it started giving problems?
Was it indeed a pump problem or was it a gasket problem?
Thanks for any help.
Eddie
If you have had a water pump problem, how many miles did you have on your pump when it started giving problems?
Was it indeed a pump problem or was it a gasket problem?
Thanks for any help.
Eddie
I had approx 90 - 95K on mine when it went, and yes it was the pump and not gaskets.
Easiest water pump change I have ever made.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I was using one of the Z06 forums and found that several guys had theirs changed out by the dealer under warranty for leaks. I was going by these instances. Believe me, I am hoping mine is gaskets also.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I would highly recommend using either one of our forum GM vendors as their prices are usually quite good.
Fichtner Chev (1-800-234-5284 and ask for Bob in parts) or GMpartshouse (Gene Culley)
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I bought a new pump to replace it with, but the leak somehow stopped.
The new pump is just sitting on the shelf for now.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
You are correct on the torque values, but the first stage would be 11 lbft not the 22.
Further, based on the appearance of the steel mounting bolts when I removed mine, I would recommend cleaning the threads and shafts and the application of a thin layer of anti-seize on these bolts. Even if replacing with new, I would still use AS on the threads.
Further, based on the appearance of the steel mounting bolts when I removed mine, I would recommend cleaning the threads and shafts and the application of a thin layer of anti-seize on these bolts. Even if replacing with new, I would still use AS on the threads.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,909
Likes: 1,858
From: Hot Springs AR
I've not known a single C5 in my area to have a water pump start leaking on them. I've had a leak develop in the plastic T fitting that's in the bottom of the surge tank at about 170,000 miles, and a friend had the same problem at about 130,000 miles.
Sometimes hoses will erode and develop pinholes right at the upper radiator fitting, but that's pretty rare as well.
Your plan of getting a pressure tester is fine, but you've got to get the right adapter to screw into the radiator cap.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Sometimes hoses will erode and develop pinholes right at the upper radiator fitting, but that's pretty rare as well.
Your plan of getting a pressure tester is fine, but you've got to get the right adapter to screw into the radiator cap.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Where you live does make a difference. The ones that are driven year round, are less likely to be affected than the winter stored cars.
This winter I was planning on just running it up to temperature, at least once a month.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
That also helps minimize the white powdery surface oxidation on all the under-hood aluminum parts too.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
My 99 C5 water pump went out at 41,000 and my 2002 z06 went out @ 39,000 miles.. And we wonder why American car companies are having a hard time.. Both were replaced under extended warranty. They are pretty easy to replace yourself compared to many other water pumps on cars I have owned in the past
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,909
Likes: 1,858
From: Hot Springs AR
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Well, it looks like the drivers side gasket is the culprit. I rented the radiator pressure tester from Autozone and like someone said, it does not work. There is no adapter for our reservoir. I ran back to AZ and picked up a replacement cap. I took the guts out of it, and used that along with my bugsprayer and pressurized the system to 15 lbs. It took it about 15 minutes to start showing itself but it started leaking. Now to drain and flush the system good. This should be fun in the garage.
I will try to post a few pics of my pressurizer rig. It also works for pressure bleeding brakes.
I will try to post a few pics of my pressurizer rig. It also works for pressure bleeding brakes.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Bil
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Fremont CA
CI 3-5-8 Veteran
Mine went at 80K and I took it as a signal to replace the belts and hoses at the same time. It also gave me the excuse to get the radiator out and back flush out 6 years of bug bodies.
The pump failed with a slow off and on agian weeping of fluid on to my garage floor. I had to step in it to realize that I had a problem.
Neil
The pump failed with a slow off and on agian weeping of fluid on to my garage floor. I had to step in it to realize that I had a problem.
Neil
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16