1992 Pontiac SSEi

To remove the water pump, I ran into a snag. I have the motor mount removed, along with the water pump pulley (4 bolts) and all the water pump bolts - except one. Also removed the coolant (fixed) hoses that run to the heater core.

When viewing the front of the engine, the far left hand (towards the passenger side) can not be removed unless one removes the power steering and alternator mount bracket. I am assuming that there are 4 large bolts plus a few smaller ones. I have 3 of these larger bracket bolts removed, but now I see one more behind the power steering pump.

How is the power steering pump held in place? How do I remove it to gain access to the bolt?

Once all the bracket bolts are removed, I am assuming that the bracket will pivot a little and allow access to the last remaining water pump bolt.

If Pontiac engineering did their job, they would have allow access to this last water pump bolt.

Am I on the right track or is there an easier method to exchanging the water pump?

What a pain in the butt!

Comments and assistance welcomed!

Thanks!

Yep, it'* a pain to replace the water pump on the supercharged '92/'93.
Like you saw, the alternator bracked is in the way of that last bolt on the water pump, so you have to put a socket thru the holes in the power steering pump pulley and remove the 2 bolts there, then drop the power steering pump a few inches out of the way, then you'll see the remaining hidden bolt(*) for the alternator bracket so you can remove them and move the bracket an inch or two out of the way so you can remove the last water pump bolt.

When I did it on my '93 last year, I was amazed at how GM designed it...it took me about 5 hours to replace the water pump, and that'* about what the dealer said they charge for their time. I suspect that it'* MUCH easer on the non-supercharged engines for those model years.

Good luck.

The NA'* are easier. Took bout 1.5 to 2 hours to do it. Just have to remove motor mount and jack the engine up... I think