General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Weird water pump issues..

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 03:34 PM
  #1  
knight_rider's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: California
Default Weird water pump issues..

Hey guys, I have a 2000 WS6 Trans Am, 6speed, car has just reached the 100k mark. A few days ago I noticed that my water pump was leaking but then for the past 3 days I've been checking the car after driving it and no leaks..even when I checked the radiator yesterday it was a little low so I fill it with about a cup of water and when I check it this morning before heading to work its not low anymore, any idea what could be happening? I had the water pump replaced about 3 yrs ago and when I saw the leak I was surprised because I thought it would/should last longer than that right? It did leak tho after going up and down some long hills here in Utah AND the weather was pretty hot that day so I'm not sure if that could've caused it to leak? Anyways, I'm kinda baffled by this as I have no idea if my water pump is going bad or if there was just air in my cooling system? Also my temp gauge is fine, it never went past the 210 mark (not sure if that gauge is accurate?) and the car never seemed to overheat. I just wanna make sure since I don't wanna end up on the side of the road somewhere...
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 04:45 PM
  #2  
knight_rider's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Ok looks like I need to replace the water pump, just did a pressure test and sure enough it started leaking from the back side of the pump...this sucks, I don't understand how I just replaced it 3 yrs ago and now its starting to leak again?!
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2012 | 04:38 AM
  #3  
wssix99's Avatar
Save the manuals!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,967
Likes: 389
From: Chicago, IL
Default

Do you think the gasket could be bad or could the pump be loose?
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2012 | 09:42 AM
  #4  
Schnell's Avatar
Launching!
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
Default

Water pump is a relatively simple repair.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2012 | 12:40 PM
  #5  
knight_rider's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by wssix99
Do you think the gasket could be bad or could the pump be loose?
I looked again and it was leaking from the pulley area...so its prbably a bad pump right?
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2012 | 03:26 PM
  #6  
wssix99's Avatar
Save the manuals!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,967
Likes: 389
From: Chicago, IL
Default

Originally Posted by knight_rider
I looked again and it was leaking from the pulley area...so its prbably a bad pump right?
Yes, there is a weep hole behind the pulley that will leak as the seals start to go bad.

If your overflow bottle has fluid in it and you have fluid missing in the radiator, the seals are a little further gone and its definitely time for a new pump. (With bad seals, the pump can not only leak fluid out but pump air in to the system.)

Was the pump you replaced a reman?
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 02:13 AM
  #7  
knight_rider's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by wssix99
Yes, there is a weep hole behind the pulley that will leak as the seals start to go bad.

If your overflow bottle has fluid in it and you have fluid missing in the radiator, the seals are a little further gone and its definitely time for a new pump. (With bad seals, the pump can not only leak fluid out but pump air in to the system.)

Was the pump you replaced a reman?
Not sure if the pump I replaced it with before was a reman one, I thought I bought it new. I just bought a new one from Napa and replaced it with a new t-stat as well...everything is fine now, no more leaks and radiator fluid and overflow fluid levels are fine, thanks again.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2012 | 11:06 AM
  #8  
lt1pwr1's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 618
Likes: 1
From: Oakland Township, MI
Default

Originally Posted by knight_rider
Ok looks like I need to replace the water pump, just did a pressure test and sure enough it started leaking from the back side of the pump...this sucks, I don't understand how I just replaced it 3 yrs ago and now its starting to leak again?!
If you bought an aftermarket waterpump then you are lucky it lasted 3 years
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 09:52 PM
  #9  
knight_rider's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by lt1pwr1
If you bought an aftermarket waterpump then you are lucky it lasted 3 years
Yeah I don't even know what brand it was cuz I had the shop that did it buy it and they asked if I wanted to go with the OEM one or a "heavy duty" one, I chose the heavy duty one and now I regret it..piece of junk didn't even last that long...
This time around I bought a brand new one from Napa (the brand is Tru-Flo Water pumps) and installed it myself, also got a new t-stat while I was at it. Lets hope this one will do its job.

On a side note, I always noticed on my previous water pump my overflow tank was always low for some reason but that the fluid level in the radiator was normal? Maybe it had to do with the water pump but now that I have this new one, the overflow tank level is back to normal. And on my old water pump, after my engine would get all warmed up from driving, when I would start it up again my temp gauge needle would spike way up above normal operating temps and then slowly come back down, weird...its not doing it with this new water pump and t-stat so I'm thinking either the old water pump or t-stat was defective?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:54 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE