Perfect timing...

[hertahoe]

So I take my daughter to volleyball club last night about 5 minutes away from the house. On the way there, I hear the belt squeak - hmmm. That's weird, but I was going to change the belt this wknd anyways. On the way back, the temp looked normal. Pull into driveway and turned it off. Open garage door and I her the Tahoe pissing up a storm. Look and see it just streaming out from right side of engine bay. Open hood and water pump area completely soaked and also notice the left side by the battery was splashed...Haven't looked at it yet in the daylight to see if it was a hose or something else. I was planning on replacing water pump, thermostat, serpentine belt, alternator (it has sounded like a supercharger since buying her back in '08), already have the transfer case motor. I have replaced tensioner a few months ago. The Tahoe is very clean, 132,000k and has been a awesome truck with very few issues. Other than a few suspension issues. I barely drive it since my wife loves it so much. Crazy wknd ahead. Ideas or suggestions would be nice.

PS - will update my findings around lunch time.

 

[OR VietVet]

Pressure test to locate the leak and good idea to replace other parts while in there. I would replace the second tensioner and the idler as well. Also, replace the a/c belt while off for other tensioner.

 

[hertahoe]

Pressure test to locate the leak and good idea to replace other parts while in there. I would replace the second tensioner and the idler as well. Also, replace the a/c belt while off for other tensioner.

Thanks! I ordered the idler (lower) with serpentine.

 

[iamdub]

If you replace the water pump, don't get aftermarket or it'll cost you more in the not-so-long run.

 

[wildcatgoal]

I had an almost same situation occur. My water pump gasket failed. It's as if one day it was fine, the next day it was dumping the coolant tank on the ground. I couldn't drive 30 miles before I was getting a low coolant warning.

I used the following parts for the water pump:
- Melling MWP500 (included gasket, I trust Melling, not Gates or the randoms)
- GM 15-11057 Thermostat Inlet (included a new thermostat, not pictured)

I also replaced every coolant hose I could, but only one of them was questionable. Figured since I was in there, do it.

Also replaced the belts, belt tensioners, idler pulleys, and found my alternator bearings were dying so eventually I put in a new alternator (brand new Remy 145a) that whined louder than the old alternator with bad bearings. Figures...

Anywho, just do a good job of cleaning the mating surface on the block for the water pump. Some nasty old shit gets packed around that area.

 

[steve45]

I've had several water pump leaks in recent years, every one of them was the paper gasket. Replacements all came with rubber gaskets. I don't know why GM won't make the switch (well, yes I do--it would cost them a nickel more).

 

[hertahoe]

So all the parts came in yesterday and work is finished. Replaced water pump, serpentine belt, alternator (supercharger sound for the last 8 yrs), ac belt and tensioner. Used AC Delco for all parts. When I went to drain coolant from petcock valve, there was nothing! Just a hole where it was supposed to be. So I placed dog crate pan under the Tahoe and pulled off the lines to the pump. I did not use any extra sealant around the gaskets, so crossing fingers, just the gaskets that were supplied. Then I used my coolant air bleeder to add fluid. Truck sounds normal again and hope for many more miles. It currently has 133k for an 05. Thanks for the advice.