Leaking Water Pump???

[LSC CE 82]

While checking my car over for a trip I'm taking for thanksgiving, I noticed my crank pully looks stained with fluid. I've noticed from time to time I smell coolant at the front of the car, I've only added less than a cup in 8k miles, but now that's it's colder out, I think the water pump drips worse until the car heats up. My car has had the pump replaced at 135k by a local repair shop known for being hacks. I'm guessing they used some kind of crap part. The car has 153k on it now.

How hard is it to change the wp myself? Also can you recommend a good part. My oem pump failed per the reciept and the PO said the car got hot on him......I don't want that to happen. Also I heard it's no fun to burp the MK's cooling system.

Thanks!

 

[soduka]

Water pump is super easy on this car. While the belt is still on the components, use that and wedge a screwdriver between two of the four bolts to hold the water pump wheel in place to remove its bolts with a socket. It can be pretty annoying to get those off because the whole thing spins while you're trying to do it. Then remove the alternator, gives you great access. I did mine in May, I just used an ACDelco unit and it seems to work great. This one comes with a new gasket so you don't need to buy a separate one. I also replaced the thermostat at the same time since I had to open up the cooling system anyway. One tip I read on here and it's very true, MAKE SURE you removed every bolt holding the water pump in! There are a couple of bolts on the underside that are right next to bolts that look like they are to the water pump but actually aren't.

http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-252-5...r=1994|1994&carId=006&n=15684181&s=automotive

The only hard part was the old one was practically welded to the engine, I bent a pretty solid pry bar prying it off.

 

[Sapperfire]

Yeah removing the waterpump bolts and not the timing cover bolts will be helpful

 

[ONLYTONY]

Easiest water pump I've ever changed. I had a 74 T-Brd and it took 4 hours to swap the pump. My 95 MK VIII took about 30 min. They recommend you put DI-Electric grease on the O ring. Burping took around 20 min.

 

[Sapperfire]

Best way I've found to burp is to use one of those thin bottomed orange funnels.fill the reservoir then Just remove the crossover cap, insert funnel and fill er up while running. Once there's no more bubbles coming up into the funnel, she's done

 

[unity]

Just another vote on the super easy thing. All I needed was a new o-ring, which the pump came with. Being that yours was replaced not so long ago, it should come free easily.

 

[young mark 8 lover]

how do you burp your coolant if you cant get the crossover cap off?

 

[unity]

Either remove the crossover or drill a hole that in some way can be plugged.

 

[Sapperfire]

Use a 1/4" breaker bar and not a ratchet. If u dont have one its OK but u may break the ratchet if its a cheapo one. "Smack" the handle to loosen it instead of applying torque

This isn't one of those things that its a good idea to use a hot wrench on only because the cap has a seal on it and you'd more than likely melt it while heating the cap. I'm using an AC system seal since none of the normal black seals would fit correctly

 

[soduka]

My crossover cap's notch got rounded out by someone, couldn't use a ratchet or anything. I was able to remove it using vice-grips grabbing the very lip of the cap.

 

[Sapperfire]

That's pretty common.. to prevent that in the future , most people get one that has a hex head on it. I welded the end of a bolt onto mine. Cut the entire shaft off and beveled the edge, then polished it and clear coat

 

[MsM8tress]

did you get it open yet? I used kroil, applied it three times over a 10 hour period...only need a little, make sure she is cold, then used vic grips on the ittybitty lip - still got pretty gnarley - but got it off!

There's an LVC hottie who makes a cap with a nice bolt top - I'll be buying one for sthl, Tux has his from an LVC Christmas party gift exchange...gotta love my LVC Hotties!

Smooches!