Water pump ?'s

[89grand]

OK so yesterday after work I stopped at a gas station (something we all do alot) and I see water coming out from underneath. I wasn't far from home so I drove it home to look at it and I can't see where the water is coming from, I see it running off of the harmonic balancer but I can't see where it's actually coming from.

Here's my questions, first could it be coming from somewhere else besides the water pump like the water pump housing or whatever it's called that the water pump bolts up to? I know on Pontiac V8's they have an aluminum timing chain cover/water pump housing and those can crap out.

If it is the water pump, which isn't making any noise and the fan doesn't move if you grab it and try to move it by the way, is there anything in particular to look out for as far as removal and installation is concerned? It looks like quite a bit of work to replace it but still pretty straight forward.

Also, it doesn't leak while it's running, only after it warms up and it's shut off.

[Hammer]

There is one hose that attaches to the water pump on the passenger side that can be doing this.
Or the water is coming from the weep hole in the water pump.
Sounds like the pressure builds up just a little extra once you shut the motor off and the last of the engine heat dissapates into the coolant to raise the pressure slightly.
Not typical to leak from the mating surface between the water pump and timing chain cover though, especially not how you describe it.

[89grand]

Oh yeah, just to clarify a few more things about this. It didn't seem to be coming from the weep hole, it's possible I guess but didn't seem to be, and it apears to be coming from the drivers side of the water pump area as the water is coming down off the driver side of the harmonic balancer. Also the water isn't gushing out but it's not a small drip drip drip either it's more than that. What sucks is you can't see anything in there until you take it mostly apart first.

[Hammer]

The large lower hose is on the driver side right there, and could be leaking/squirting under the added pressure enough to make it onto the balancer.

[J4GRAND]

The lower radiator hose goes into the pump on the driver's side so it may be as simple as tightening the clamp on the hose or it may be that the hose is on its way out.

[89grand]

Yeah it may be the hose. I replaced it about a year ago and the clamp seems tight but you never know.

[89grand]

It was the weep hole in the water pump, I couldn't see it the first time I looked but got a flashlight and I could see it.

Anyway I replaced the water pump yesterday, is it just me or is this a real PITA. It took me 4 hours from the time I touched the first bolt until the time I had it running. Man you have to unbolt or loosen alot of stuff to get that thing off.

Well at least the next time I have to do this I'll probably be able to do it in 3 hours since I loosened a few things I proably didn't need to.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that it was 109 degrees here yesterday when I was doing it.

[ June 27, 2003, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: 89grand ]