5th waterpump in 6 months

fox-gt

Member

Feb 28, 2004

204

0

17

TN

Jul 24, 2007

#1

• Jul 24, 2007

• #1

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?

 

D

Deleted member 87397

Jul 24, 2007

#2

• Jul 24, 2007

• #2

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

New Member

Nov 25, 2005

792

1

0

Northern VA

Jul 24, 2007

#3

• Jul 24, 2007

• #3

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

Member

Sep 22, 2003

236

0

17

CA

Jul 24, 2007

#4

• Jul 24, 2007

• #4

Out of balance clutch fan. Unless you have electric.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 24, 2007

#5

• Jul 24, 2007

• #5

Aryan15 said:

Out of balance clutch fan. Unless you have electric.

Click to expand...

My first thought as well.

 

fox-gt

Member

Feb 28, 2004

204

0

17

TN

Jul 24, 2007

#6

• Jul 24, 2007

• #6

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

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 24, 2007

#7

• Jul 24, 2007

• #7

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

Member

Feb 28, 2004

204

0

17

TN

Jul 24, 2007

#8

• Jul 24, 2007

• #8

HISSIN50 said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 24, 2007

#9

• Jul 24, 2007

• #9

fox-gt said:

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

Click to expand...

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

Member

Sep 22, 2003

236

0

17

CA

Jul 25, 2007

#10

• Jul 25, 2007

• #10

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.

 

S

smallstang393

Member

Oct 18, 2004

75

0

6

Jul 25, 2007

#11

• Jul 25, 2007

• #11

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