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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 02:50 AM
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Post Water Pump Leak

I need help in determining what my problem is. I noticed a squeal from my belt or pulleys and inspected the car. I found a the belt wet with a small amount of coolant. I saw it dripping from the waterpump pulley into the crank pulley. Is this my waterpump gasket? weeping hole? or bad seal? How would I know.
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 06:26 AM
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The issue is when the car is running it tends to spatter coolant everywhere. Try to get the coolant up to temp or at least enough to pop the thermo, throw a pressure tester on it and inspect, that should show you where the leak is coming from.

MOST times you can do it when its cold too just to be sure, Willing to wager the pump went bad. But a tester is the right way of finding out.
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 06:28 AM
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Waterpump gasket leaks down the front of the block from either side so it sounds like the Weep hole and if your car sits a lot it will do that but i would pressure test it to see were its really comimg from and how bad !
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 11:57 AM
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its leaking.....just get a new pump........and GM gaskets
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 02:35 PM
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any suggestions on the brand for water pump? and the brand for the thermostat? I want to replace it myself! is it difficult?
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 09:21 PM
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definately use GM metal gaskets. i'd price a GM thermo and water pump and compare it to a good name brand at a parts store. if the price isn't crazy high at the dealership, i'd go with those. if you do get one from a parts store, get a new one with a lifetime warrenty. don't go remanufactured.
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 09:22 PM
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and they're pretty straight forward to change out. just a lot of removing parts from in front of the engine and bolting it all back up.
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 09:29 PM
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my friend replaced one a while back he got one from Autozone, im sure Rockauto has it a bit cheaper
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Old Nov 15, 2011 | 10:42 PM
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the bosch from pep boys is waaaaay cheaper than rock auto.......i dont think any 1 remans these pumps...............all new

Last edited by sjsingle1; Nov 19, 2011 at 11:54 AM.
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Old Nov 18, 2011 | 11:52 PM
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How would I pressure test it? I found coolant sprayed all over hoses and engine bay. I want to make sure its not hose so how would I pressure spray it.

If it is the pump I think I am getting the Bosch WP with GM gaskets...
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Old Nov 19, 2011 | 03:10 AM
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You can buy or rent a pressure tester from parts stores-they simulate the pressure the cooling system would be during operation. You pump it up and then look to see where your system leaks...
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Old Nov 19, 2011 | 09:35 AM
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Oh, thanks a lot myk. I will do that!
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Old Nov 19, 2011 | 08:42 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJgptyRcdq4

Here is a video on youtube of my ss after I solved the leak( it was a loose hose) but there is a weird noise. the Water pump pulley isnt smooth and wobbles a bit compared to all the other pulleys. Any suggestions?
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Old Nov 20, 2011 | 11:29 PM
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Anyone?
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 02:09 AM
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If the pulley in fact wobbles, then the impeller shaft is unbalanced either due to worn bearings or pulley seal, hence sounds of the grinding. In this case, it is highly expectable for coolant to leak from the pulley. But if it's not leaking yet, then you should be able to continue using the pump without a problem. Just gotta be careful with you see coolant leaking--which is only a matter of time.
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 03:35 PM
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I took the belt off and spun all the pulleys. Most spun for a sec and stopped. The water pump one spins like 5 times before it actually stopped. Is that normal?
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Old Nov 21, 2011 | 05:25 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Pc4XiPi64
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Old Nov 22, 2011 | 11:56 PM
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It can be if there is no coolant to impede or slow the movement of the impellers. If your water pump was going bad it would be leaking at weep holes behind the black drum along the bottom face (front) of the pump. If your water pump gaskets are bad the coolant leaks from the backside bottom of the pump leaving the front of the pump dry.
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Old Nov 27, 2011 | 04:53 AM
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I changed the WP and everything is in working order
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Old Nov 27, 2011 | 01:22 PM
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Very interesting that this post popped up just as I had a similar experience. Looks like a coolant leak from the water pump pulley. I have a video I'll post soon to confirm. Does anybody have some links to good tutorials on water pump replacement?
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