5th waterpump in 6 months

[fox-gt]

My engine was rebuilt about six months ago, less than 10,000 miles on it. The guy put a new water pump on it when he reassembled the engine. Two weeks the low coolant light came on, took it back, water was coming out the weep hole. Three weeks later it does the same thing. He says for water pump #3, he put a different brand on, that maybe the parts store had a bad batch. Last week I noticed it was leaking out of one of the bolt holes. I took it to a different mechanic (#2), who installed a new (not rebuilt) aluminum pump. On the way to work today (6 days later) I noticed the temperature gauge at the top, almost in the red. I pulled over and see anti-freeze gushing out the bottom of the pump. After an expensive tow and missing a day of work, it is at mechanic #2 to check it out.

Other than my car hating me, why am I having so many water pump issues?

 

[Deleted member 87397]

Is the front of you block warped or something where the pump mates to it? You just can't have that many water pumps go bad on you. Maybe debris in the engine that wasn't cleaned out during the re-build and it's killing the pumps?

 

[onefstsnake]

Have you tried replacing the pump yourself?

With enough RTV it should seal fine. And I dont see how small metal shavings would kill a pump that quickly...

I mean you could drain all the coolant and throw a magnet in the pan to see if there is anything in there...

 

[Aryan15]

Out of balance clutch fan. Unless you have electric.

 

[HISSIN50]

Out of balance clutch fan. Unless you have electric.

My first thought as well.

 

[fox-gt]

Will one from Autozone work or are they junk?

Torqflo / Fan Clutch
Warranty - LLT 922783
$59.99
Application:
With A/C
Note: Premium Xtreme duty
Designed for S.U.V's, light trucks and motorhomes or vehicles that operate at higher RPM

 

[HISSIN50]

I was thinking more about a fan blade that's out of balance. You can get a decent Moment going with outer imabalance. The plastic fan blade was known for cracking, which alone can cause imbalance issues. Check the fan over really carefully. Options are a replacement blade (I went with a metal replacement to get rid of the plastic POS) or the above-mentioned e-fan swap. If you're paying a mechanic to swap pumps, you already have some cash outlay with these pumps (so paying for parts for a swap would be off-set by future pump swaps if this same configuration is kept).

I'd do a 3G/E-fan swap (done cheaper with the help of the forum. ) and take away all of that load on your water pump bearings (when the bearings go, the pump leaks out the weep hole).

Do really look that fan over carefully. A metal replacement is under 40 bucks.

 

[fox-gt]

I was thinking more about a fan blade that's out of balance. You can get a decent Moment going with outer imabalance. The plastic fan blade was known for cracking, which alone can cause imbalance issues. Check the fan over really carefully. Options are a replacement blade (I went with a metal replacement to get rid of the plastic POS) or the above-mentioned e-fan swap. If you're paying a mechanic to swap pumps, you already have some cash outlay with these pumps (so paying for parts for a swap would be off-set by future pump swaps if this same configuration is kept).

I'd do a 3G/E-fan swap (done cheaper with the help of the forum. ) and take away all of that load on your water pump bearings (when the bearings go, the pump leaks out the weep hole).

Do really look that fan over carefully. A metal replacement is under 40 bucks.

Do you have a link or brand of the fan you bought? It looks pretty simple to replace, remove the fan shrould and unbold, replace, tighten bolts? (or is there more to it)

 

[HISSIN50]

Do you have a link or brand of the fan you bought? It looks pretty simple to replace, remove the fan shrould and unbold, replace, tighten bolts? (or is there more to it)

I'm pretty bumbed regarding the car. It has been in and out of shops for the last 8 to 9 months. I don't think I have been able to drive it one month straight. I have put 3 to 4 times into it over what it is actually worth

It was a metal Flex a lite blade. I think the model was FLX 5918 but check before ordering.

You pretty much got it with the fan R/R. It's very simple. Just be sure your fan clutch is up to par before you spend 40 bucks on a fan blade (good clutches are pricey - a blade and clutch is about the same cost as a J/Y fan and a very good fan controller).


Good luck.

 

[Aryan15]

The clutch is was most likely caused bearing damage. Its much heavier than the plastic fan. I personally don't like the flexfans because they roar something fierce. Check out the local junkyards for a new fan and buy a new clutch. I found a decent fan in a lincoln.

 

[smallstang393]

Advance auto has stock replacement ones for like 50$ may want to try that