Water pumps on C5's
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Water pumps on C5's
Has anyone had any problems with water pumps on their C5's? I was doing my FLP header install yesterday, and noticed some orangish fluid on the bottom of my motor and investigating farther looked like it was coming from the water pump area. Anyone had this problem, and if so what was the cost of the fix? :confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Re: Water pumps on C5's (Pewter1)
I have over 91,000 miles on my 98 and it just started leaking about a month ago. It didn't start until I flushed the system and put in fresh coolant. I am thinking the old coolant was thick and nasty and hiding the leak. I am waiting for school to get out for the winter break and then I will tear it out and probably replace all the idler/tension pulleyes as well. Something is screeching and it is driving me nuts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
From: DFW tx
Re: Water pumps on C5's (gonbad)
Mine went out at 40k miles. It started with a slight coolant smell, then began to leak after getting on it one day. The install was about 500 with a new belt at the dealer under ext. warranty.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 3
From: SoCal
Re: Water pumps on C5's (Jeff Jeff)
Probably just bad water pump gaskets. They cost about $5 for 2. The whole water pump comes off with just 6 10mm bolts being removed, and is something you can do in under an hour. If you aren't under warranty, start by checking those gaskets.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 426
From: Fulshear TX
Re: Water pumps on C5's (Pewter1)
I have a 2001 Z06 which started making a whistling noise when fully warm at about 6000 miles. On the fourth trip to the dealer they tracked the noise to the water pump. It was replaced under warranty. They never said whether the noise came from the seal or the bearing or what. I was just glad to get the bad pump replaced rather than eventually having it fail out on the road somewhere.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
Re: Water pumps on C5's (Pewter1)
I had to replace my pump due to metal porsity. It first started leaking at about 40,000 mi and I was able to stop it for a while with GM stop leak for metal porsity. It started leaking again at about 60,000 and I got tired of the small leak and replaced it. When you got the conditions right you could watch the antifreeze come right through the bottom and form drops on the pump.
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: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Re: Water pumps on C5's (alanh)
I replaced mine a last month. Its pretty easy to do with standard tools. Take the Throttle body off to give your self more room.
Also my leak wasn't coming from the water pump :(
My leak was from the bottom TB coolant line that feeds the heads. I found this of course after I replaced the WP.
Also my leak wasn't coming from the water pump :(
My leak was from the bottom TB coolant line that feeds the heads. I found this of course after I replaced the WP.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale AZ
Re: Water pumps on C5's (Pewter1)
Maybe this is really a new thread, but has anyone expeienced the coolant turning to gel? If you stay with the GM coolant, I recommend you change more often. Some people have experienced gelling with DX coolant. After warranty I will probably switch to Honda coolant. Honda has been making aluminum engine/heads longer than anyone (I have two) and there coolant is among the best I've seen. Use honda coolant and water wetter and I think you will be happy. At least you won't see your coolant turning to gel.
JMHO AzCargasm im North Scottsdale. :smash: :smash: :cool:
JMHO AzCargasm im North Scottsdale. :smash: :smash: :cool:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 80
From: NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Water pumps on C5's (Pewter1)
My water pump went out on me this week as well (@ 77k miles). This is also after a coolant flush that was done about 2 months ago. Looks like once you put some new coolant in the car the crud left in the radiator eventually breaks away and moves around a little easier.
The water pump replacment along with replacing both belts and adding additional coolant wound up being around $468.
The water pump replacment along with replacing both belts and adding additional coolant wound up being around $468.
