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cars4chimps
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Jun 6, 2015, 7:26 AM
Post #1 of 11
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I got a new water pump about two years ago after it started making a horrible clanking noise. Since then I've had trouble keeping water in my coolant system and you can also see when the engine is running that the water pump was not put in straight. Then yesterday I saw coolant drizzling straight out of my water pump. So my question is, since I have a relatively new water pump and it doesn't make horrible noises, is it possible the water pump just needs a new gasket, or needs to be installed correctly or something? '99 Olds Intrigue 3.5 140K. Thanks guys.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 6, 2015, 8:13 AM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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For whatever reason it will need a new one. They can fail in a few ways, leaking is one.
Because you've noted it's out of alignment now and lasted 2 years it probably was OK then and failed allowing it to move out? That should be verified that it's the pump's pulley now showing out of line and not the harmonic balancer.
Don't allow it to run low or overheat and with described leak really shouldn't drive it except perhaps just move it on site to fix it.
Hard to believe it was installed wrong somehow and lasted at all,
T
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cars4chimps
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Jun 6, 2015, 8:40 AM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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The water pump was out of alignment when they first installed it, and I'm also highly suspicious it is the source of my coolant leak, but I guess that's neither here nor there. Thanks for you help, as always!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 6, 2015, 9:41 AM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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Not sure it's the pump itself? Somehow I don't understand how it worked for that two years! Look it up, longer thing than many but otherwise mostly common. I won't go dig deeper but should mount on a timing cover and accessory belt driven. If somehow wrong pulley got on there that's something else. If damper was sliding out (they can) it too should have thrown belt(s) off and failed long ago IMO.
It's possible to put a belt on and not be right on the pulleys but those also usually chew right up in minutes.
Are you doing this yourself? Match up that pump with the new one and should be able to know, not guess it's leaking or not. Pressure test to force the leak if needed and suggested anyway AFTER the replacement if another source is the true reason you need to know.
Use VIN# to verify engine size and part is correct new on a counter if you do it. If you are sending this out bring up what you see but you can't let it pour out coolant no matter where it's from. If that alone didn't now cause a problem it will.
Pump should look like this for the engine you mentioned. If two similar are used that simply do not hold the belt in the same place it didn't suggest that to find that picture,
T
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cars4chimps
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Jun 8, 2015, 7:28 AM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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One funny thing about the repair two years ago was that the guy wouldn't accept my credit card, he drove me around the block and had me withdraw cash, but it's not like that's the first time that's happened.
Anyway, would you recommend coating the gasket with silicone goop when installing?
(This post was edited by cars4chimps on Jun 8, 2015, 7:29 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 8, 2015, 8:35 AM
Post #6 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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Look for instructions on new gasket or pump to seal or leave alone:
99% is how clean the surface are and since scraping on alloys with hardened metal you do have to be careful not to gouge metal.
Most common gaskets I will use a smear of Permatex Gasket Maker which may have some silicone and is slightly sticky when dry held down to the pump on bench with what it takes to hold it exactly in place till totally dry to the touch. Not really called for but a smear and I mean just the least smear the gasket itself (some plain cardboard) do not seep yet that's OK and do seal but come off if the part later with no work more my own reason.
This stuff exactly. Note that it doesn't say "adhesive" as it's main property.
Let dry! I'm not a fan of any sealing product loaded on still uncured with who knows what spaghetti strings it might make out of sight inside or what harm that could do.
Water pumps note where bolts and brackets are, some long, short and different sizes. Brackets in order they came off unless thing is out of line for real because they aren't??
Longer bolts I'll apply plain old brown brush in cap gasket sealer to the threads as those go into coolant usually and also they don't stick hard if removed later for any reason. Other threads get some grease AFTER and crud on bolts is brushed off clean so they don't seize up especially in alloys.
Everything upon putting it back on should all line up. Pulley on pumps should hold belt in perfect alignment with other items on that belt.
Before everything done and filled but all coolant parts on and in place I'll slight pressure test system with just air and spray a light soapy water at any suspect area to be sure. Some gaskets can make a shaving cream in just spot but not too much. That would be just pressured air getting thru some paper type gasket. Coolant alone seals that right away.
Assorted bolts, some with nuts also may not come all the way out or go back in in some without moving stuff or maybe going thru wheel well? All should get a sure non crossed thread feel by hand before tools used to tighten,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 8, 2015, 9:01 AM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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What I do is I use spray adhesive on the water pump side to stick the gasket to the pump firmly. I then put a light coat of silicone on the side that meets the engine. That way when it comes off the next time you won't have to scrape it off the block. The whole gasket will remain on the pump when it comes off.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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cars4chimps
User
Jun 12, 2015, 1:50 PM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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So I got a new pump for $60 and spent a couple hours installing it. I had to remove the belt, and then the idler, and then scrape off the old gasket, which was probably the hardest part of all. I got my knuckles bloody and I was thinking, who needs this? If you wanted to cut corners and save time you might want to skip this step, so I figure that might have been the problem with the old pump--old gasket left on there. One tip though on removing gasket, spraying it with windex softens it up.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 12, 2015, 2:15 PM
Post #9 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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We have tools for doing that stuff.
If he left the old gasket on, then he is not a mechanic at all.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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cars4chimps
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Jul 12, 2015, 10:11 AM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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To follow up, I kept getting leaks, so I got a new radiator hose, threw away the old clamp and used a screw-on clamp. Still got leaks, so I screwed the clamp tighter...and tighter. I think you can see where this going. The radiator inlet crumbled to pieces. So I bought a radiator online (much cheaper than at the store), watched a couple youtube videos (none for my specific car, but Buicks are close) and installed it. The transaxle inlets were too small on the new one, but I was able to swap in the old ones. The biggest pain by far was getting the d*mn clamps on the hoses.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 12, 2015, 10:42 AM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: Water Pump Leaks
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If that says you fixed it and was squished hose connection be glad that's all it was. Yes, the self tensioning OE spring clamps are either a pest to impossible without a special tool for those. Advantage is they don't allow fooling with how tight you can make them and too tight is more of a problem sometimes than not tight enough on that stuff, T
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