Water Pump??????

[Ernzo]

Hi,

It snowed, I pulled Louise out, got just far enough away and the motor starts making this horrible grinding noise!

I had it in low range, so I put 'er in high, tried to get back home, did a complete 360 in the middle of University Blvd. here in Denver, recovered and got to a 7-11 where I parked her.

Since there is also coolant all over the front of the motor, I suspect water pump.

The grinding noise is motor-only, as it happens in N . It is directly related to RPM, faster when revving etc. Lastly it seems to come from the front!

But.... I am not sure? Must be water pump?

So, here it is, the Blizzard of the Century, and Louise is stuck in a 7-11 lot!

I am sure it is here, but -

• Pull the radiator
• pop the fan and clutch
• pull the hoses
• pop off the old water pump
• put on the new one?? Don't forget the gasket?
• Any big 'look out for" here? Have plenty of PB Blaster?

Thanks a million IFSJA, and Louise says Vrooooomm!!

Ernzo

[J4GRAND]

Did you look to see if the fan somehow impacted the radiator? I have never heard a bad water pump make grinding noises (not to say it can't happen). They usually just start leaking from the bottom weep hole or in an extreme case, they can seize and break the fan mount, sending the fan into the radiator.

[Ernzo]

Hi, I am monitoring this as it is a little bit of an emergency!

I did not see anything visibly off, I will check the fan, but the noise seems to be coming from the water pump housing. The noise is quite pronounced. Additionally, coolant is really leaking, steam etc.

I has suspected that the impeller had broken. Prior to this, when I started her up, I have heard a slight chirping noise from the same area, but it had gone away, so I had forgotten about it!

[fulsizjeep]

Hi, I am monitoring this as it is a little bit of an emergency!

I did not see anything visibly off, I will check the fan, but the noise seems to be coming from the water pump housing. The noise is quite pronounced. Additionally, coolant is really leaking, steam etc.

I has suspected that the impeller had broken. Prior to this, when I started her up, I have heard a slight chirping noise from the same area, but it had gone away, so I had forgotten about it!

Good thing you did not drive far. Sometimes the impeller will hit the timing chain cover and that can make a real mess of things if it grinds through.

[funwheeling]

I would have to say water pump. Is yours a rebuilt or new? Did you put it on?

There would have to been a flaw in the impeller to break. I think this is unlikly.

[EEKAJEEP!]

Water Pump, Fan Shroud, or Pulley?

Hi

Grinding noise...hmmm. Check your fan shroud to see if is cracked. It maybe hitting the fan blades. I had that happen on the way home for work one night. The nice, friendly maintenance guy broke it by leaning on it, while giving me a jump start.

Secondly, I have worked on many water pumps on different vehicles over the course of 25 years. Never had one make grinding noises.

Check your hoses, if your fan is lose, it could hacked away a slice in your hoses. That could explain radiator coolant being all over the place. Do that before you tear down your truck in the parking lot.

these little overlooked items, can really pee one off, when you get focused on your suspected big problem, and find out your big deal wasn't the culprit in the first place.

Oh the grinding noise...water pumps usually weep from the little hole at the bottom of the water pump. Or, they leak because the gasket has become brittle and has weakened...letting the water seep out. Grinding noise could be water pump bearing..but it usually squeals, and chirps, but that would only happen because of an uneven pulley, or belts being too tight, but water usually seeps waaaaaaay before bearing actually craps. Overly tightened belts can cause premature wear n tear on the water pump, the idler pulley, (Hey! Check your tensioner pulley...that could be your problem, it will definitely make a grinding sound as it rubs the block), accessories, and belts. Look carefully, it may look fine visually. You may have to remove your belts to see if the pulley is broken.

Good Luck

Geno

[EEKAJEEP!]

on second thought

On second thought,

I forgot to mention, if your water pump is bad, I agree with the other postee that the impeller being bad is improbable. The water pump crapping out could be a secondary problem. Reinspect your pulleys, look for grinding marks, replace if necessary and check the tightness of your belts. If they are too tight, make sure you leave them "loose enough" that the belt feels tight, but when you pull on them you have a bit of play.

Take care, and stay warm!

Geno

[fulsizjeep]

Trust me folks, I have seen a 360 with a timing chain cover that has an impeller hole in it. The pump shaft slid inside the pump far enough to make a mess out of it. I am not saying this is likely, but possible.

[AMX factor]

Another thing to check. Harmonic balancer outer ring is separating from center mass and sliding back and hitting timing cover...now that makes a racket. I have seen water pumps freeze before blocks freeze. I would imagine your pump is gone.

[andy d]

If you can wiggle the fan up and down, you found the trouble. I would back off the alternator and remove the belts to disable the pump, fill er up with coolant, and limp home come daylight. 360 waterpump R+R is a PITA job. undo the battery ground to kill the system. All the accessories have to come off it, Alt, PS pump and AC compressor. dont un do the hoses , just un mopunt them and move them out of the way Go slow on the bolts and stick them on piece of cardboard that you traced with the outline of the gasket. as you take them out. Go with a new pump, not a rebuild. Good luck,

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

When my water pump went about a month ago I had the EXACT problem. Grinding noise and all. My water pump bearings went bad and the impeller rode into the front of the water pump and made the nastiest noise untill it finally siezed up and coolant went spraying (steady stream) out of the weep hole. Water pump on a 360 was pretty easy IMO. Dont need to remove the radiator btw. Might want to replace the thermostat, might as well, theyre cheap and its only 2 bolts.

[Ernzo]

Thanks! My day is better for all the help[ I have received here.

The harmonic balancer went out some years ago, and I remember the clatter. This is a a littel different, but I will check that *** I know how.

I will take a look at the fan/radiator and make sure it is not riding out on it.

I will take the advice to drop the belts and limp home, as it is only about 1/2 mile and it is about 25 degrees here. I am hoping the with the water pump belts off, I can get home......

Not sure about the battery...

I will let you know, and thanks again IFSJA!

Full Sized Jeeps do it better, longer, and with more gas...!

[scantar]

Ernzo,

I'm sorry I missed this thread! I'm probably pretty close by if the 7-11 you're talking about is the one just south of Evans.

Let me know if you need help getting it home (I haven't read the rest of the thread so for all I know you might have it home by now )

Steve

[scantar]

OK...I see where you limped it home last night.

Sounds like you're getting a handle on the probable suspects...let me know if you need anything. If nothing else, I'm real good at standing around and pointing at things under the hood

Steve

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I have seen several impellers come off. Also and usually they wind up punching a hole in the timing cover as Flint mentioned. Pull the dipstick, you might have coolant in your oil Last one I seen that came off there was no play in the pulley nor did it leak out the weep hole............possibly because it all dumped into the crank case At anyrate untill you can verify where the coolant is coming from it would be hard telling. However since you have the grinding noise RPM related and coolant all over the place............I am inclined to think water pump as you suspect.