Water pump time

[Fink117]

So my noise wasn't the converter it was my water pump. The bearings are growling for death. New pump should be here tomorrow along with a new thermostat. Just to make sure I've got this down I just pull the lower rad hose off, drain it, disconnect the rest of the hoses, swap it, and refill it with roughly 4.5 gallons of 50/50 dexcool?
Thanks in advance.
Fink

 

[Meccanoble]

How many miles on your car? Just curious so I know when to look to change mine as well. Hope someone can confirm this process. I'm used to water pump being in same area as timing belt/chain? Speaking of which, do these cars come with belt or chain?

 

[Fink117]

166k miles. Waterpumps right out front with a belt.

 

[Meccanoble]

Great to know!

 

[1_8TTony]

Do yourself a favor and pay a shop to break loose the fan clutch nut with thier proper tool and thier air impact. I think the nut size is 32mm.


Removing those four 10mm bolts down there on the water pump pulley will do nothing but make the job more difficult. The big nut is the one that has to be removed.......leave the four smaller bolts in place, they will come installed on the new pump.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Do yourself a favor and pay a shop to break loose the fan clutch nut with thier proper tool and thier air impact. I think the nut size is 32mm.


Removing those four 10mm bolts down there on the water pump pulley will do nothing but make the job more difficult. The big nut is the one that has to be removed.......leave the four smaller bolts in place, they will come installed on the new pump.

I got the fan clutch nut removed with a ratchet strap (and some duct tape to help the strap grab the pulley) around the pump pulley, and the alternator bracket. Then just whacked the wrench with a hammer til it broke loose. Wasnt terrible.
There is a specific tool that grabs the waterpump pulley IIRC, but I couldn't source one locally in a pinch.

Now that I think about it... shouldn't the NNBS have an electric fan and not have this issue?

 

[MichaelSE]

Just curious how you found out it was the water pump rather than anything else. I have a bothersome noise that seems to be coming from the front of the engine too.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I got the fan clutch nut removed with a ratchet strap (and some duct tape to help the strap grab the pulley) around the pump pulley, and the alternator bracket. Then just whacked the wrench with a hammer til it broke loose. Wasnt terrible.
There is a specific tool that grabs the waterpump pulley IIRC, but I couldn't source one locally in a pinch.

Now that I think about it... shouldn't the NBS have an electric fan and not have this issue?

I think the electric fans came on 05 up. I think. My 03 has a clutch fan.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I think the electric fans came on 05 up. I think. My 03 has a clutch fan.

Hah whoops I missed an N there. I meant shouldnt the NNBS come with electric fans since the OP has an NNBS and this post is in the 07+ part of the forum.

My 03 also has a clutch fan... someday maybe Ill switch it out.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Just curious how you found out it was the water pump rather than anything else. I have a bothersome noise that seems to be coming from the front of the engine too.

low coolant levels, leaking coolant, eventual overheating problems. For me it was fairly clear that there was fluid weeping out of the waterpump.