Help with changing water pump,,
#1
Member
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Thread Starter
Help with changing water pump,,
Helloeveryone, I have antifreeze leaking under my water pump for the past 4 days and its getting worse. Im gona go to auto zone tomorrow to pick a new one up. Could someoen maybe send me a link on how to change out the old one with the new one..
Also, sence i have to empty my antifeeze, I have bought a long time ago a flush and fill kit, and a bottle of Prestone Super radiator Flush. Is it better to buy the 50/50 mix antifreeze or the straight antifreeze.Also, if anyone has a link on how it shows to flush the antifreeze will be helpful..
I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 non-supercharged motor...
Thanks for any help anyone could offer...
Also, sence its been leaking im sure its low so could i put some water in it till i drive to the place to have it done tomorrow?
Also, sence i have to empty my antifeeze, I have bought a long time ago a flush and fill kit, and a bottle of Prestone Super radiator Flush. Is it better to buy the 50/50 mix antifreeze or the straight antifreeze.Also, if anyone has a link on how it shows to flush the antifreeze will be helpful..
I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 non-supercharged motor...
Thanks for any help anyone could offer...
Also, sence its been leaking im sure its low so could i put some water in it till i drive to the place to have it done tomorrow?
#2
Retired
Are you sure its the water pump leaking coolant and not the coolant elbow right above it? Its the plastic tube that comes out of the lower intake manifold and turns right. This part is a common failure, actually, I don't ever recall seeing a waterpump or gasket fail on here. It'* always that $4 part.
If you do intend on repairing it very soon, then yes, you can use some water to top it off. Remember, when you add water, you lower the boiling point of the coolant.
Just follow the directions on the flush kits. You can use just the regular 50/50 mix.
If you do intend on repairing it very soon, then yes, you can use some water to top it off. Remember, when you add water, you lower the boiling point of the coolant.
Just follow the directions on the flush kits. You can use just the regular 50/50 mix.
__________________
Retired Administrator
2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
Retired Administrator
2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
#3
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Some styles of water pumps have a "weep" hole on the bottom. When the seals on the pump fail it will leak out that hole. Make sure that is where the water is coming from and not from the coolant elbow Mike mentioned.
If you do change the pump, with the serpentine belt still on loosen the 4 bolts that secure the water pump pulley to the water pump (do not remove them). Remove the serpentine belt, and finish removing the 4 bolts that hold the pulley. I forget how many bolts hold the water pump (8 or 10 maybe?) but they are two sizes. Make sure you mark which size bolts come out of which locations. Remove all the bolts, remove the water pump (may have to pry), clean the gasket surface and put it all back together again. Two of the holes in the periphery of the new water pump line up to 2 dowels on the engine. After you install and tighten the pump, install the pulley and tighten the 4 bolts as much as you can with just holding the pulley from turning. Install the belt and finish torquing the pulley bolts.
Do not overtorque the water pump or pulley bolts.
Install the flush tee in the heater inlet hose, and run tap water with the cap off the radiator until the water coming out is clear. Start and stop the engine (30 seconds running) a few times while doing this. Disconnect the hose, install the cap on the tee, and drain as much water as you can out of the engine and rad. Close all the drain points, Google what the coolant capacity of your car is and add in half of that capacity of concentrate coolant. Top the balance up with water. Bleed the coolant system to make sure you have all the air out.
Please notice you do need the concentrate coolant, not the pre-mix. When you drain the clean water out after flushing you will not get all the water out. If all you have is pre-mix you will never be able to get the system up to 50%. Besides, using concentrate is way cheaper than using premix.
If you do change the pump, with the serpentine belt still on loosen the 4 bolts that secure the water pump pulley to the water pump (do not remove them). Remove the serpentine belt, and finish removing the 4 bolts that hold the pulley. I forget how many bolts hold the water pump (8 or 10 maybe?) but they are two sizes. Make sure you mark which size bolts come out of which locations. Remove all the bolts, remove the water pump (may have to pry), clean the gasket surface and put it all back together again. Two of the holes in the periphery of the new water pump line up to 2 dowels on the engine. After you install and tighten the pump, install the pulley and tighten the 4 bolts as much as you can with just holding the pulley from turning. Install the belt and finish torquing the pulley bolts.
Do not overtorque the water pump or pulley bolts.
Install the flush tee in the heater inlet hose, and run tap water with the cap off the radiator until the water coming out is clear. Start and stop the engine (30 seconds running) a few times while doing this. Disconnect the hose, install the cap on the tee, and drain as much water as you can out of the engine and rad. Close all the drain points, Google what the coolant capacity of your car is and add in half of that capacity of concentrate coolant. Top the balance up with water. Bleed the coolant system to make sure you have all the air out.
Please notice you do need the concentrate coolant, not the pre-mix. When you drain the clean water out after flushing you will not get all the water out. If all you have is pre-mix you will never be able to get the system up to 50%. Besides, using concentrate is way cheaper than using premix.
#4
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Thread Starter
Thanks for your quick response Mike1995 and 2kg4u. I will check the coolant elbow to see if its comint from that. I just know that when i had looked down by the water pump that there was a puddle of green antifreeze on some kind of plate under the water pump..I will take back the 50/50 antifreeze and get the full concentrate antifreeze..
#5
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Well guys, I spent 7 hours on replacing the elbows. The water pump dont look like it is leaking. Im glad somewhere that I read to make sure I get the broken part out of the tubes the elbows broke in when takeing them off. I thought I had everything cleaned out of the tube untill I seen there was the gasket i pulled out and then the end broken piece. It took a while to pry all the broken pieces but I know it was dont right. I had a little trouble lineing up the bracket that the elbows went into and trying to line up the other ends where they go into the spots on the engine..I filled up the antifreeze and even remembered from reading someones post about turning the bleader on top of the thermostat which worked out great. I let the car run for about 25 minutes while adding the antifreeze and checking for drips and I didnt see any.
Im thinking about taking my car to the carwash place and spray the old antifreeze odd the bottom of the engine where it has been dripping so I can see if its dripping by the end of the day from driving around..
Hopefully this fix will improve my gas milage cause it used to get 250 MPG and for the past 5 months Ive only been getting 190 MPG...
Thanks again for all of your help!!
Im thinking about taking my car to the carwash place and spray the old antifreeze odd the bottom of the engine where it has been dripping so I can see if its dripping by the end of the day from driving around..
Hopefully this fix will improve my gas milage cause it used to get 250 MPG and for the past 5 months Ive only been getting 190 MPG...
Thanks again for all of your help!!
#6
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Glad you found this before spending time and effort replacing the pump. Can I buy your car? 250 MPG is nothing short of amazing. I can only get 25 MPG.
#7
Senior Member
True Car Nut
I doubt that this repair alone will have anything to do with your fuel mileage to be honest.
But, with your confidence up, it can only lead to good things.
But, with your confidence up, it can only lead to good things.
#9
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
I smelled some antifreeze today and I noticed it looks like a few hot bubbles are seeping out from where the hose meets where the radiator cap screws on..My reserve tank it filled to the full mark..Any ideas what might be causing the seeping of antifreeze?