Water Pump

[thepretzelman]

Does anyone know about how many miles the water pump is good for and what are some signs, besides leaking coolant, of it going bad?

 

[funkingonutz]

i say change it at 100k but the only sign of a bad water pump that i can think of is if the shaft moves at all up or down (so grab the shaft that your fan is on and try to wiggle it) or if coolant is comming out of the "weep hole" (its a hole right on the face of the pump,... kinda small)

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ive seen pumps fail at 30k and ive seen them fail at 130k...theres just no telling, too many variables.

 

[thepretzelman]

The reason why I ask is because I think that my water pump might be squeaking but I don't know for sure it only squeaks below 2500 rpms, and I know it inst the belt, alternator or pulley because those were recently replaced.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

just because those components are new doesnt mean they can be ruled out. ive seen many a brand new serp. belt (especially cheapos) squeel.

sounds like its time to get out the ol' stethiscope and start probing around the front of the motor.

 

[ick]

I've got 160k on my pump and was just in there doing heads but didn't replace it. The way I look at it is, it's not broke, don't fix it. I may get another 20 miles or 20k miles, either way I'm gonna use it up till it's gone.

 

[woodyedmiston]

Serpentine belts squeal, a water pump bearing is more of an oink. It will come and go until right before it fails completely. Sorry I can't be more descriptive of the sound.

 

[thepretzelman]

It isn't a squealing noise, it sounds like it squeaks every rotation and if I drive for more than 10 minutes it goes away. It is almost like when the engine warms up it goes away.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

spray the belt with some sort of liquid (water, wd-40, brake cleaner, ect) while the engine is idling and the noise is occuring. if it stops then its the belt.