One way to tell if the water pump is bad is to take off the pump pulley belt and wiggle the pulley, if it is not tight (if there is a lot of play) chances are the pump is bad.

Rebuilt parts aren't always reliable ( I just bought a rebuilt starter for my car and it was junk right out of the box, Advance Auto is usually pretty good about giving you good parts though). When you are getting a part as important as the water pump new is better. Judging from the Advance Auto prices I would spend the extra $20 for a new one just for the piece of mind (and the lifetime warranty).

 

I changed the belt. Before reading what 89Daytona posted, I noticed the fan was very wobbley, I assumed that was bad. Now I know! Advance, AutoZone and Napa were all with in $4 of each other on the new pump. A clerk told me on the water pumps that are rebuilt that only the bad parts are replaced, don't know how much truth there is to that, doesn't make much sense but for $30 cheaper, you never know. My pump was $69. I believe the fan blade may of clipped the belt due to the tensioner not being that great. I'll replace the tensioner next week, my wallets bleeding like a stuck pig, and it's another $70...


I apperciate the help guys!!!!

tally for the D this year:

$400 for new tires, front/rear allighnment in July
$560 upeer/lower balljoints & breaks all around in July
$135 for starter
$20 x 2 serpintine belts
$105 for plugs, cap, rotor, wires in june
$15 lower radiator hose in september
$8 Drain **** in september
$6 radiator cap in september
$70 water pump in september
$8 bypass hose in september
$5 for gasket spray
$20 in antifreeze with more to come I'm sure...
$25 in freon in august
and
$70 to come for the tensioner pully

that's $1467 this year in maint, I'm sure I'm over $1500 hopefully next year I will be good to go!!!

 

I got ya beat,
$1800 rebuilt tranny (with only 35k on the clock [:'(] )
$6 radiator cap
$10 t-stat
$15 t-stat (Again )
And I won't go into fluids LOL.

 

My hanes manual says I need a special tool to loosen the fan bolt, any idea what this is or how much it cost? You'd think they would say you need "specific" tool, not a "special" tool...

Would a strap wrnch work for holding the water pump while I loosen the bolt? and does the 360 have a fan clutch? how do I know if it's bad?

 

Yes the 360 has a fan clutch. I don't know how to tell if it's bad and I imagine a strap wrench would work fine it's just to keep the fan from moving, heck if you could hold one of the blades I'm sure that would work just as well...

 

A bad fan clutch will not have resistance when you try to spin the fan.

A strap wrench might work. You need to hold the water-pump pulley still, while turning the fan-clutch nut counter-clockwise. Then remove the fan from the old clutch and install it on the new clutch.

 

I took it off with a pipe wrench and smacked it with a hammer on the handle of the wrench and just held the other side. I had a lot of problems with Checkers parts before. I only use Auto Zone for pumps, and starters.

As for the bypass hose it is about 1" diameter and about 5" long. It goes between the back of the pump and the intake manifold. You just replace it when you do the pump. It is very easy. Might be the best time to replace the bottom radiator hose while you have the pump off. The top is easy so you can do it anytime. The bottom is a pain in the butt, so you might want to do it now.


Hey I got you all beat with just one trany custom built. $2992.76[:'(]
And that is not just it. I can keep going.[:'(]

 

Oh I know hydra LOL. I've got both of you beat in the sense that my tranny didn't last long at all with only 35k on the clock when it went. [:'(] At least I know everything is good now. I changed my plugs and they had perfect wear on them so the engine is A+ and my tranny should go at least another 30k miles LOL. Once that goes I'm off to find a Dak manual tranny.

 

Got the water pump changed. It was a breeze! It took me longer to get the starter OFF when I canged it than to do the entire water pump. I took the fan/shroud off and then the pump in like 15-20 minutes. I got a bad feeling it was going so easy. So I went to change the bypass hose, and I was like AH HA! That's going to be the kicker because I have to take off the A/C compressor, alernator and the bracket. But even that was only like 30 minutes to get them off. I didn't discharge any lines for the A/C just unmounted it and moved it aside. No problem! and then after that was done the bypass was gravy. and it opened up the water pump area for easy cleaning and scraping. And made it even easier to put the water pump back on. Seriously, the hardest part of the whole ordeal was getting the A/C electric switch unplugged. I swear Dodge has to have the most f'd up connectors...

I noticed a very small trace of water coming from the top of the water pump and running down to the lower radiator hose after driving it to work the next day, but it seems to have stopped, is this normal?

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

 

Ok Green! LOL! Hydrashocker<-----is rolling up his sleeve's.

I had the OEM trany rebuilt @ 122K as well as the motor and the T-case. Supposable built too, last year @ $4500. Lasted 10K and went back in the shop because I lost 2nd gear band. Rebuilt trany again (under warranty thank god) and it lasted 70 miles. (YEA 70 MILES) I got really pissed off and took it to someone I know and really trust. (only does trany work though) Got the whole thing done right and custom built @ $2992.76.

2. MSD Ignition @ $300
3. Water pump hoses @ $100
4. Ball joints top and bottom with rod ends, pitman arm, control arm. $400
5. Fastman 52MM TB $250
6. Ceramic brakes & new rotors $220

I'm just going to stop there because I know I am making you jealous[:'(]

cesspool<---- You might of had a leak or some spilled fluid. Just keep an eye on it.