1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Bad water pump?

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Old 10-31-2006, 08:01 AM
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Default Bad water pump?

i am on my way to work when i start to here squeling. i get to the next lightand start
to see smoke, so i pull over and pop the hood and i there is coolant all over the pulley side of the car. is this the water pumpgone bad? or is it something else?
Old 10-31-2006, 08:10 AM
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Well, it'* really hard to tell for sure since we have only a little bit of information. It certainly sounds like and could be your water pump, but it could also be a burst rad hose that spewed all over that side, causing the initial squealing as the coolant caused the belt to slip.

Do us and yourself a favor and get out there and get a real detailed look at your upper radiator hose, your lower radiator hose, your water pump pulley, and your water pump itself.

Then loosen the serpentine belt and try to hand turn the water pump pulley. Let us know what you find.
Old 10-31-2006, 08:16 AM
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the hoses look fine!
which one is the water pump pulley?
Old 10-31-2006, 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by SUPRCHRGD
the hoses look fine!
which one is the water pump pulley?
big round pully in middle of engine, right above harmonic balancer (bigger round pulley on bottom of engine)

edit: all pulleys should turn freely, check them all
Old 10-31-2006, 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by lash
Then loosen the serpentine belt and try to hand turn the water pump pulley. Let us know what you find.
water pump pulley just spins, and there is very little play/wobble frome left to right
Old 10-31-2006, 09:42 AM
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if the water pump moves freely with no play or noise, you blew a hose somewhere. also check the plastic elbow that goes from the lim to the upper tensioner assembly. it'* right below you supercharger snout.
Old 10-31-2006, 09:55 AM
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Did you look at the weep holes on the water pump nose for evidence of leak there?

Check the heater hoses for leaks or failure.

You say the Radiator hoses look fine, but one typical failure mode is for one to have a pinhole leak that opens under pressurization.

Like sanoma said, check each pulley.

Clean up the mess with a rag for ease of diagnosis.

Refill your coolant and bring engine to temp, watching hoses, water pump, and pulleys all the time. The leak will usually give itself away.
Old 10-31-2006, 12:28 PM
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what about a busted coolant elbow.... im betting that it let go
Old 10-31-2006, 03:53 PM
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It there'* coolant all over the place, clean up the coolant, fill the radiator, and run the engine for a minute or so. If it leaks at that time, then you'll know the cause. If it doesn't leak right away, it'll most likely begin to leak after the system heats up and opens the thermostat, but because you describe a lot of coolant leaking, my guess is that you'll see your leak within a few seconds after starting the engine.
Old 10-31-2006, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by 1993 SLE
what about a busted coolant elbow.... im betting that it let go
I wish I would have said that
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