I think my waterpump locked up tonight. Help!

[Kman]

I'm 400 miles from home. Getting off the freeway to go to my hotel the steering got super tight, lights dimmed, and the battery light came on the dash. Drove the Tahoe 0.5 miles to the hotel.

Popped the hood and saw the belt laying there intact (not broken). Saw a bunch of melted rubber around the water pump pulley. Tried spinning water pump pulley by hand and could not get it to budge (should I be able to free spin it?) Did my water pump seize?

Keep in mind I have had no coolant leaks or coolant seeping out of the weep hole on the water pump prior to this.

Tahoe has 148k miles. Water pump was replaced by a Chevy dealer at 99k miles because water pump was leaking. Shouldn't the pump last longer than 50k miles?

Any Chevy dealers or car shops in Livermore, CA opened on Sunday that can look and fix my ride? Any recommendations?

 

[Kman]

I watched this video: http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20349

Looks like what I thought was my water pump is actually my belt tensioner. Are those known to lock up?

 

[chauncey0337]

Not sure if they're known to lock up but any moving part with bearings can lock up when the bearings go bad. Can you remove the belt off the tensioner and try to turn it by hand?

 

[Kman]

Not sure if they're known to lock up but any moving part with bearings can lock up when the bearings go bad. Can you remove the belt off the tensioner and try to turn it by hand?

The belt was laying in the engine bay when I popped the hood. lol.

I just went out and took another look. It's the belt tensioner. The black plastic wheel completely melted away and I can not spin what is left of the tensioner wheel.

Kind of weird. I've never heard of a belt tensioner completely locking up like this. Looks like I'll be swapping out the tensioner in the morning in the hotel parking lot.

 

[chauncey0337]

Sucks when things like this happen when you're out of town but at least it's an easy fix. Good luck man.

 

[ATL]

that does suck, but def better than a water pump while out of town. id fix it in the parts store parking lot with loaned tools. id prob go ahead and get a new belt while i was there

 

[The 'ER]

Tensioner is going to be easier on the road with limited tools.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Be very glad it's the tensioner instead of the waterpump, since you are away from home!! I've heard that happen to another guy on a different forum so it does happen!! Just to let you know, the water pump will have the radiator fan attached to it! You are getting a new belt as well, right?

 

[Kman]

Be very glad it's the tensioner instead of the waterpump, since you are away from home!! I've heard that happen to another guy on a different forum so it does happen!! Just to let you know, the water pump will have the radiator fan attached to it! You are getting a new belt as well, right?

Sure am. Just called AutoZone and they have the pulley and belt in stock. Looks like all I need is a screwdriver and 15mm socket. Hopefully I don't run into any problems.

I'll be sure to take pics of the carnage if everything goes smoothly.

 

[Kman]

Success! Hardest part was getting the belt back on.

Found the melted gear resting on the top of the skid plate.

Here is a pic of the carnage: