Is my water pump bad??? pics

[amazinghl]

My car is leaking, BAD.

I remove the wheel and took some pictures. The leak is from where the water pump is I suppose.

I check every where else, but no sign of water.

So, is it my water pump?







Those green dots are my anti-freeze...

[Dr. Bob]

Gee, now I see why some like to change the oil filter by taking off the right side wheel and fender liner!

Thanks for the pics.

[ssicarman]

Yes the water pump or the gasket for it is leaking. For the time and trouble to just replace a bad gasket the water pump is best done as well. The whitish stain is dried coolant.

[100KSW2]

You don't want to run the car out of coolant or the engine will be scrap.

I replaced my water pump in 1998 at 82K miles because it was only seeping a bit (no coolant even reached my garage floor). The repair at that time was $150. (My coolant was still fresh, which saved a couple bucks - I usually change it every 2 years instead of every 3 - my car, like yours, preceeds Dex-cool and 100K coolant change intervals).

Of course if you break down on the road and get towed to a non Saturn facility it may be less convenient and more expensive.

[Luke]

Dr. Bob:

now I see why some like to change the oil filter by taking off the right side wheel and fender liner

Yes, that is the way I also change my filter -- it is, truly, so much easier.

[wolfman]

Good pictures! (To include the lower engine mount, oil filter etc..as well as the lower portion of the waterpump) It does appear that you have a coolant leak in the area of the water pump. If after closer inspection from below with a flash light you are sure it is not just a hose, replace the waterpump. This is a VERY DIY project. Be sure to completely remove ALL traces of the old gasket and any sealer and completely dry the block to pump mating surfaces to prevent the new pump from leaking. I would suggest proceeding as follows.

With the splash guard OFF as in the pictures AND with the coolant drained including removing the block drain plug underneath the waterpump in the block.

1.LOOSEN but do not remove the bolts holding the pump's pulley to the pump THEN remove the serpetine drive belt.
2. NOW remove the bolts and water pump pulley.
3. Remove the bolts holding the pump to the block..MAKE SURE YOU GET THEM ALL!
4. Remove the pump. If it sticks to the block and you are SURE you have removed all the bolts, whack it with a rubber mallet to knock it loose.
5. Carefully scrape off ALL the old gasket/sealer and completely dry and degrease if necessary the block mounting surface.
6. Apply a THIN layer of ultra form a gasket to the new pump and engine block where the pump mounts. Then stick the pump gasket to the BLOCK using the sealer (still wet) to hold it in place.
7. Place 1 mounting bolt to act as a guide through the easiest to access spot on the pump and install the pump hand threading the bolt just enough to keep it from falling off.
8. Hand thread in the rest of the bolts then tighten in a criss cross pattern GRADUALLY AND EVENLY until torqued to spec.
9. Reinstall the pulley
10. Reinstall a NEW serpetine drive belt and then retorque the pulley bolts.
11. Refill with FRESH coolant (50/50 mix with water)

Whole project should take around 2 hours MAX and run you around $50 +/-

[amazinghl]

I'm pretty sure it isn't the hose. Why? because they are DRY!!!
I'll have to replace the water pump tomorrow, I need to buy a boxed 10mm wrench!!!

Just a note, Autozone of the GDM brand *made in Japan* had the water pump for $30. Kragen wanted $40 for them!


You have my permission to use any of the pictures if you like

[David 93 SL2m]

Originally posted by Luke
Dr. Bob:
Yes, that is the way I also change my filter -- it is, truly, so much easier.

I too remove the front right wheel to access the oil filter. It is literally right there when we pull down the left side of the wheel well liner! I've been doing it this way for years.

[David 93 SL2m]

Yes, these are great pictures. In addition we can almost see the belt tensioner. It missed the photo by a matter of images. I access the belt tensioner when changing the serpentine belt by removing the front right wheel and wheel well liner too.

[amazinghl]

So, you guys like my pictures huh??

Well, what else would you like me to take pictures of???

[amazinghl]

More pictures....

I couldn't get the pulley off, I had to unbolt the waterpump and pulley.
I'm trying to find a way to bolt the pulley, anybody got any ideas?

The water pump is indeed leaking. The white stuff is dry anti-freeze.


More pictures of the car.





Don't mind the bloody color of the rotor, it's just a reflection of my RED creeper.

[amazinghl]

A peek under the engine.

[amazinghl]

I started at 11am... it's now 7:30pm...


I'm FINALLY DONE!!!


I couldn't get the pulley off the water pump. I had to take the water pump off first, and that took me a LOT of time. Then I heated the bolts, I iced them, I soaked them WD 40, and still no go.

The bolts connected the pulley and water pump is SO tight that my friend and I broken the socket and still couldn't get any one of them out.


I had to go to pepboys and get them to use the impact wrench to get them out!!!
They were that TIGHT!!!


Then I flushed the system out and no more leaks!!!

[1320Doc]

Hey, those are good pics !!!. Makes me feel like I'm at work on my day off though...

[wolfman]

Just looked at the newest set of pictures and saw something worth keeping. A front brake line going to a caliper in it's properly arched position. Maybe Charlie should start to keep a bunch of these photos somewhere on teh board for folks to use as "real world" references..Charlie are you listening? It's the picture right below the one of the removed waterpump....

[1320Doc]

I was noticing the CORRECT position also. I guess it's a habit that we always look for a twisted line as the wheel is off.

[amazinghl]

Originally posted by wolfman
Just looked at the newest set of pictures and saw something worth keeping. A front brake line going to a caliper in it's properly arched position. Maybe Charlie should start to keep a bunch of these photos somewhere on teh board for folks to use as "real world" references..Charlie are you listening? It's the picture right below the one of the removed waterpump....

There should be a real world reference for "Upper Motor Mount" too.

What??? There's something "PROPER" about my saturn?!?!?!?!?!?!

You can't be serious!!!

[dru95sc2]

Thanks for all the tips I got done with my water pump in 1.5 hours including an oil change and thermostat. Finally I have no leaks any ware after new hoses stat and rad and water pump.

[amazinghl]

Where's the thermostat and how much did it cost you new?

[DualCamCoupe]

Originally posted by amazinghl

Don't mind the bloody color of the rotor, it's just a reflection of my RED creeper.

Uh huh and I suppose the fur on the caliper is from your carpet?