Coolant leak under water pump
03-06-2012, 05:02 PM
#1
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Coolant leak under water pump Drove home from work today and found coolant leaking from what appears to be from the bottom of the water pump. After it stopped leaking i dried it up and started the car. It didn't start leaking right away, i guess once the t-sat open it started dripping again. It looks like its only on the bottom of the pump, like its coming from the seam on the pump (see pics). Im assuming the pump is bad ? Is there a tutorial on changing the pump (never changed one)? I'm off from work tomorrow and need to fix this asap, its my daily driver.
2000 T/A 63k miles
Thanks
2000 T/A 63k miles
Thanks
Last edited by Blue2KTA; 03-06-2012 at 05:11 PM.
03-06-2012, 05:56 PM
#2
could just be a water pump gasket, and the drip is collection there. The gaskets are very easy to replace. Remove the intake lid/maf/bellow, and maybe the TB to give yourself more room, and pull the belt. Undo 6 bolts, and take it on out after you drain what you can from the radiator.
03-06-2012, 06:22 PM
#3
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
could just be a water pump gasket, and the drip is collection there. The gaskets are very easy to replace. Remove the intake lid/maf/bellow, and maybe the TB to give yourself more room, and pull the belt. Undo 6 bolts, and take it on out after you drain what you can from the radiator.
03-06-2012, 06:51 PM
#4
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Besides a new water pump, gaskets and coolant is there anything else that I will need ? Going to do an online order (store pickup) with Advanced Auto and use a $50 off 150 coupon code. How much coolant will come out after draining the radiator and removing the pump ?
03-07-2012, 10:25 AM
#7
The coolant, pump, and gaskets (your pump may come with the gaskets!) may be all you need, BUT... GM changed the pump design in the middle of the production run. So you should check which type you have and match the thermostat housing to the specific pump you have.
If your current thermostat is the old design, it and the thermostat neck may not fit your new pump. (The old pumps were phased out by GM in the supply chain, but its possible some could be around in warehouses.) The only way to know for sure is to check the number on the castings.
More info on the phase-out: http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pdf/10JTI-064.pdf
Thermostats don't last forever, so while you are replacing the pump, it might be a good idea to just change the thermostat, anyway. (Just be sure to get one of the new ones with the integral neck.)
Here's a thread with some pictures of someone who had a pump-to-thermostat issue. https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...a-fitting.html
If you cross reference your new part numbers to the 2004 GTO, that should confirm that the pump you are getting and the thermostat will go together properly and are both of the new/updated design. (I recall that the pump switch-over took place before the GTO went in to production.)
When you do the replacement, all you need to do is make sure the coolant is drained in the radiator below the level of the pump. (I was lazy and used a siphon to suck the fluid out of the top of the radiator. I recall needing to drain around 1 and 1/2 gallons out.) Even then, you will probably get 1/2 to 1 cup of coolant spill out when you remove the pump. Just a few towels underneath should catch all of that.
If your current thermostat is the old design, it and the thermostat neck may not fit your new pump. (The old pumps were phased out by GM in the supply chain, but its possible some could be around in warehouses.) The only way to know for sure is to check the number on the castings.
More info on the phase-out: http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pdf/10JTI-064.pdf
Thermostats don't last forever, so while you are replacing the pump, it might be a good idea to just change the thermostat, anyway. (Just be sure to get one of the new ones with the integral neck.)
Here's a thread with some pictures of someone who had a pump-to-thermostat issue. https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...a-fitting.html
If you cross reference your new part numbers to the 2004 GTO, that should confirm that the pump you are getting and the thermostat will go together properly and are both of the new/updated design. (I recall that the pump switch-over took place before the GTO went in to production.)
When you do the replacement, all you need to do is make sure the coolant is drained in the radiator below the level of the pump. (I was lazy and used a siphon to suck the fluid out of the top of the radiator. I recall needing to drain around 1 and 1/2 gallons out.) Even then, you will probably get 1/2 to 1 cup of coolant spill out when you remove the pump. Just a few towels underneath should catch all of that.
Trending Topics
03-07-2012, 10:43 AM
#8
same happen to me , thought it was the WP gaskets but it was de water pump itself , change it in no time for mind peace ...
remember to torque it right 11 ft on first pass and 22 on last
remember to torque it right 11 ft on first pass and 22 on last
03-07-2012, 05:23 PM
#9
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the info. Replaced it today. R & R went ok even for a novice lol. I even cleaned the throttle body since i had to took it off.
I went with the pump from Advance Auto (lifetime warranty). Spent $120 out the door for the pump, coolant, permatex rtv and thread sealant (had a $50 off $150 coupon code)
I went with the pump from Advance Auto (lifetime warranty). Spent $120 out the door for the pump, coolant, permatex rtv and thread sealant (had a $50 off $150 coupon code)
03-07-2012, 05:35 PM
#10
Teching In
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Funny my waterpump is doing the same thing. So this morning I did the same thing as you at advanced auto. I one upped you thou. I used my navyfed rewards card and if I order online I get 6 times the reward points per dollar. Its great to be savvy in these days. Ill be doing my pump tomorrow morning. My car has 69k.
03-07-2012, 06:36 PM
#11
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Funny my waterpump is doing the same thing. So this morning I did the same thing as you at advanced auto. I one upped you thou. I used my navyfed rewards card and if I order online I get 6 times the reward points per dollar. Its great to be savvy in these days. Ill be doing my pump tomorrow morning. My car has 69k.
Nice !
Make sure you flush out the new pump before installing it.
03-07-2012, 10:39 PM
#12
Thanks for all the info. Replaced it today. R & R went ok even for a novice lol. I even cleaned the throttle body since i had to took it off.
I went with the pump from Advance Auto (lifetime warranty). Spent $120 out the door for the pump, coolant, permatex rtv and thread sealant (had a $50 off $150 coupon code)
I went with the pump from Advance Auto (lifetime warranty). Spent $120 out the door for the pump, coolant, permatex rtv and thread sealant (had a $50 off $150 coupon code)
03-08-2012, 08:14 PM
#14
Interesting that no one mentioned this, but it should make you feel good: The water pump has a weep hole for when the bearings start to go bad internally. When that happens, coolant should drip from this hole which is designed to let you know that the pump needs replacing. It's hard to tell from your photos, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was exactly what occurred.
03-08-2012, 09:27 PM
#15
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting that no one mentioned this, but it should make you feel good: The water pump has a weep hole for when the bearings start to go bad internally. When that happens, coolant should drip from this hole which is designed to let you know that the pump needs replacing. It's hard to tell from your photos, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if this was exactly what occurred.
