Water Pump

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:51 pm

water pump gone at 64000 miles anyone else replaced theres yet?

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri May 27, 2005 7:55 pm

Running Dex?

The reason that I ask is my neighbor is still running Dex in his 4.3L and his pump failed.
The coolant didn't look bad.

I am not out to bash the extended life coolants in this thread, but want to gather information.

Was it a bearing failure , or seal?

Obviously if the bearing fails it takes out the seal, but at times the seal will fail and the bearings will still feel OK.

aa21830 · Post by **aa21830** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:38 am

I did mine at about 80,000 miles. I think it was just the seals; bearings still felt good. Definitely get the tool that separates the fan from the pump. I've heard that AutoZone will rent the tool. Other things to look out for is getting the seals aligned properly when you bolt on the new pump. You can't see them without a little mechanic's mirror. Also, there can be an air pocket in the hoses around the thermostat which will keep it closed. Can't remember how I solved that. Good luck!

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Sat May 28, 2005 2:53 pm

yes HJ it still has the DEX in it and its all rusty colored I havent pulled the pump yet just noticed it last night when I got home and had to work all day today and just got home ,so its not lookin like I will be able to fool with it till mon or tue .

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 28, 2005 3:53 pm

jeff024 wrote:...it still has the DEX in it and its all rusty colored ...

Only being a 2004 that seems a little soon.
I see a cooling system flush in your future

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Sat May 28, 2005 4:26 pm

I stopped and picked up GREEN today

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 28, 2005 4:48 pm

jeff024 wrote:I stopped and picked up GREEN today

Are you out of warranty?
If you are not then they will likely refill with extended life coolant. It can be OK, if you watch it closely.

Are you still running the stock radiator cap?

I am looking for clues to the condition of the coolant , and cooling system.

Are you running the stock thermostat?

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:16 pm

yes out of warranty

yes stock cap

yes stock thermostat

and like I said before it looks like mud or rust

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat May 28, 2005 8:31 pm

jeff024 wrote:...yes stock cap...it looks like mud or rust

This may be the culprit!
Get a new cap , make sure that it has a rubber gasket that goes all the way to the center and a spring loaded return valve.
This is the little metal valve in the center that opens under vacuum to draw the coolant from the reservoir back into the radiator when it cools.

The wrong caps do not have a spring and allow the possibility of air entering the system.

16 lbs will work. A Stant lever pressure relief cap only runs about $8.

I know that I have said this all before and a search should reveal the same information. The stock GM caps are not good. The seal is a fiber gasket that barely matches the radiator neck. When it shrinks it fails to align properly and allows air to enter the system. The poor seal created by the fibreous gasket is another concern as is the lack of a spring loaded return valve.

Summary: Get a new cap PLEASE!

When you flush the system remove the expansion tank to clean it out. There is no way to get it clean otherwise.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:52 am

Your advice is well taken and I will do everything you have said, I thought it was to early to start having cooling problems.thanks HJ

Post by **HenryJ** » Sun May 29, 2005 5:48 am

jeff024 wrote:... I thought it was to early to start having cooling problems...

Boy! it really should have been.
Dex is pretty easily contaminated and there are two things that it does not like...air and heat.
If you over heat it, or get air into the system , change it.

Many have gone to the green, bear in mind that they are two different technologies.
Yes they both use ethylene glycol, but the extended life coolant (pink) uses an OAT base (Organic Acid Technology). Green opts more to the alkaline side, so as you can imagine they don't play well together.

When filling your system with either, it is best to dilute them using distilled water. This helps to maintain the PH they are designed with, limits the induction of heavy metals and other contaminants.

I like to keep one of those 2.5 gallon jugs of distilled water in the garage at all times.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon May 30, 2005 8:27 am

When I flushed my system clean , I was able to get the air out of the heatercore and since then havent heard any gurgling.

I replaced with the new Prestone 50/50 extended life, ready to use. Mainly cause I didn't feel like making another stop for Distilled water on my way home - plus I liked the idea of just grabbing that bottle when it was time to top it off.

This mix is green, and says it is compatible with any type of coolant -which was another one of my fears - that if I hadn't gotten all the dex out during the flush, that standard green would react with it.

I'm going to flush my system every year now, so I might go to standard green next year.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Mon May 30, 2005 9:00 am

my trucks at a shop right now and they called and said they cant make it leak and a pressure test only shows the cap loosing pressure

quickbiker · Post by **quickbiker** » Mon May 30, 2005 10:15 am

I still have stock everything at 71k miles. Still looks clear also. Knock on wood.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Mon May 30, 2005 11:47 am

called back and it leaked and is the pump and cap 390.00 parts and labor seems a bit high.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon May 30, 2005 11:59 am

jeff024 wrote:called back and it leaked and is the pump and cap 390.00 parts and labor seems a bit high.

It really is a straight forward repair and if you have no tools $300 goes a long way.

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:03 pm

jeff024 wrote:... pump and cap 390.00 parts and labor seems a bit high.

I think so too.
A new pump at NAPA is under $60 and a cap runs $8.
I'd say that $70 should cover the parts.
Can you change it yourself? If not you might get a second opinion.

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Mon May 30, 2005 3:39 pm

I could but nothing was open today that had the parts and it needs to be done now .I dont have the time to do it I just had a new grocery store open last Wed. and have been getting home late and im beat

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Mon May 30, 2005 4:20 pm

500.00 for pump, power flush system, and add green no more DEX COOL
plus change the belt while they have it off includes all parts and labor.just sucks to know that your gettin taken and really cant do s*it about it I need it back tomorrow

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon May 30, 2005 7:28 pm

But we will do better next time, huh?

Post by **HenryJ** » Mon May 30, 2005 7:31 pm

jeff024 wrote:500.00 ... I need it back tomorrow

Tyranny of the urgent

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon May 30, 2005 7:38 pm

Glad you have your rig back when you need it but, D_MN, that was a big price.

Makes my $973 extemded warranty look easier to swallow

Steve2003 · Post by **Steve2003** » Mon May 30, 2005 8:08 pm

Jeff,

I know how you feel, that's my life, my job consumes so much of my time that I end of being at the mercy of others to work on my vehicles and it always seem like you are searching for someone to do work on your truck that's going to do a good job and not rip you off. But that's life here in America, everybodys out to make a buck. Hope everything comes out good with your truck.

Steve

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:46 am

2000 Jimmy, currenly 79,600 miles. I had the coolant machine flushed out last summer at around 70k and refilled with green plus I added some Water Wetter. I'm guessing my water pump will take a s### at any time.

Steve

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Tue May 31, 2005 3:57 pm

OK now that all is said and done
new water pump not rebuilt
belt replaced
system power flushed and running green now
new cap
parts and labor came to a staggering $627.03
they broke "IT" off in me and beat me with it, but I have my truck back and she seems fine.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Tue May 31, 2005 4:13 pm

wow -- that is insane - I know your situation didn't give you any options,

but figuring $80 for a pump/gaskets, $25 for the belt, $4 for a prestone flush /fill kit, 3 gallons of Green at $8 each, $8 for a nice cap, that's about $140 in parts, and something like 6.5 hours labor at about $70-75 per hour.

I would have spent the $140 in parts, rented the cheapest thing I could find for around $45 a day - and worked on it all night long to get it done in 2-3 evenings.

Glad you got her back though!!

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Tue May 31, 2005 4:20 pm

the pump was 179.00 I have looked around online and there are some pumps at that price
not much I can do now