Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 958
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From: Wausau,Wisconsin
Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
I think my water pump just cashed in tonight I was driving for about a half hour and my temp gauge was about a quarter of an inch from being maxed out so i drove toautozone and got some radiator stop leak and capped it off with fresh antifreezeand thought I would cop outwith it again because it workedthe last time I tried it and its been running good with that for about 6 months, well I could only get it to run normal temps on the high way and in town it was HOT and even beeped at me to let me know it was...lol. Capping it off and adding the stop leak didnt do nothing for it so I decided to look under the hood.
I do not see any leaks comming from the hoses or thermostat housing, and I do not see any leaks on the water pump where you can see. Only place I see antifreeze is on the bottum of my AC pump and now I see a bit of wetness between the plastic shroud where the timing belt and water pump is driven.Its nighttime now and I can't see a damn thing down there and my flash light is dead so I would appreciate somebodys expirence on this sort of thing
.
I need to know if the water pump can be successfully put on while the engine is still in the car? If so how hard is it? I assume I would be putting it on through the wheel well if its possible.
Oh by the way its at 123,589 miles on the originalpump.
I do not see any leaks comming from the hoses or thermostat housing, and I do not see any leaks on the water pump where you can see. Only place I see antifreeze is on the bottum of my AC pump and now I see a bit of wetness between the plastic shroud where the timing belt and water pump is driven.Its nighttime now and I can't see a damn thing down there and my flash light is dead so I would appreciate somebodys expirence on this sort of thing
.I need to know if the water pump can be successfully put on while the engine is still in the car? If so how hard is it? I assume I would be putting it on through the wheel well if its possible.
Oh by the way its at 123,589 miles on the originalpump.
Legend
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 9,112
Likes: 1
From: Spring, TX
RE: Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
ORIGINAL: Slashwannabe
Oh by the way its at 123,589 miles on the originalpump.
Oh by the way its at 123,589 miles on the originalpump.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 958
Likes: 0
From: Wausau,Wisconsin
RE: Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
**UPDATE**
I made the mistake of putting the stop leak andcoolant in the reservoir instead of the cap by the thermostat housing, it was too hot to put it in that capalso I was affraid of getting the cap blown off at me when it was hotat Auto zone so I just put in the reservoir to be safe. When I got home I let it cool down a half hour with the hood up and then I put the rest of the stop leak and antifreeze in the thermostat housing cap and it seemed to work and it runs normal temp now and no antifreeze on top of my ac pump right now,but I understand I'm working with barrowed time with the stop leak so till I get the time and money to change the pump I'll keep a close eye on the temp gauge. The engine runs great the timingbelt right now is good but I agree that it is a good idea to change the beltwhen I decide to do the water pump.
The stop leak I used says it lubes up the water pump and seals the system, it was a liquid with metalic type shavings inside, so hopefully that will spare me a month.....lol
Also NeonRacer My head gasket is good right now,No antifreeze smell in exhaust and no sluggishness or white smoke,engine runs like a top with the exception of the water pump leak and even with the pump leaking I don't hear the bearing making noise so I might have some time left with adding the stop leak and coolant.
Thanks for the info guys! : )
I made the mistake of putting the stop leak andcoolant in the reservoir instead of the cap by the thermostat housing, it was too hot to put it in that capalso I was affraid of getting the cap blown off at me when it was hotat Auto zone so I just put in the reservoir to be safe. When I got home I let it cool down a half hour with the hood up and then I put the rest of the stop leak and antifreeze in the thermostat housing cap and it seemed to work and it runs normal temp now and no antifreeze on top of my ac pump right now,but I understand I'm working with barrowed time with the stop leak so till I get the time and money to change the pump I'll keep a close eye on the temp gauge. The engine runs great the timingbelt right now is good but I agree that it is a good idea to change the beltwhen I decide to do the water pump.
The stop leak I used says it lubes up the water pump and seals the system, it was a liquid with metalic type shavings inside, so hopefully that will spare me a month.....lol
Also NeonRacer My head gasket is good right now,No antifreeze smell in exhaust and no sluggishness or white smoke,engine runs like a top with the exception of the water pump leak and even with the pump leaking I don't hear the bearing making noise so I might have some time left with adding the stop leak and coolant.
Thanks for the info guys! : )
All Star
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
RE: Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
With that many miles, you better hope that water pump doesnt decide to suddenly seize up on you at 65mph on the highway.. Else you can look at getting a new engine instead 
If that water pump seizes, the belt will snap (If it doesn't snap first), then you can kiss your valves goodbye along with any other damage you do..
If that water pump seizes, the belt will snap (If it doesn't snap first), then you can kiss your valves goodbye along with any other damage you do..
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
RE: Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
I just pulled the water pump on mine. It is by far better to just get mad at the car kick the tire swear at it and start pulling it apart, I also agree, just replace it before a new motor or bent valves ....
Replace all of the standard stuff while your in there!!
I don't think it's all that hard but I build race motors on 4 wheelers ( 4 and 2 strokes ) while cars are little more difficult the hardest part for me was the damper, make sure you rent the puller before you get to that part he he...
Replace all of the standard stuff while your in there!!
I don't think it's all that hard but I build race motors on 4 wheelers ( 4 and 2 strokes ) while cars are little more difficult the hardest part for me was the damper, make sure you rent the puller before you get to that part he he...
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
RE: Can I change water pump with motor still in car?
ORIGINAL: Slashwannabe
**UPDATE**
I made the mistake of putting the stop leak andcoolant in the reservoir instead of the cap by the thermostat housing, it was too hot to put it in that capalso I was affraid of getting the cap blown off at me when it was hotat Auto zone so I just put in the reservoir to be safe. When I got home I let it cool down a half hour with the hood up and then I put the rest of the stop leak and antifreeze in the thermostat housing cap and it seemed to work and it runs normal temp now and no antifreeze on top of my ac pump right now,but I understand I'm working with barrowed time with the stop leak so till I get the time and money to change the pump I'll keep a close eye on the temp gauge. The engine runs great the timingbelt right now is good but I agree that it is a good idea to change the beltwhen I decide to do the water pump.
The stop leak I used says it lubes up the water pump and seals the system, it was a liquid with metalic type shavings inside, so hopefully that will spare me a month.....lol
Also NeonRacer My head gasket is good right now,No antifreeze smell in exhaust and no sluggishness or white smoke,engine runs like a top with the exception of the water pump leak and even with the pump leaking I don't hear the bearing making noise so I might have some time left with adding the stop leak and coolant.
Thanks for the info guys! : )
**UPDATE**
I made the mistake of putting the stop leak andcoolant in the reservoir instead of the cap by the thermostat housing, it was too hot to put it in that capalso I was affraid of getting the cap blown off at me when it was hotat Auto zone so I just put in the reservoir to be safe. When I got home I let it cool down a half hour with the hood up and then I put the rest of the stop leak and antifreeze in the thermostat housing cap and it seemed to work and it runs normal temp now and no antifreeze on top of my ac pump right now,but I understand I'm working with barrowed time with the stop leak so till I get the time and money to change the pump I'll keep a close eye on the temp gauge. The engine runs great the timingbelt right now is good but I agree that it is a good idea to change the beltwhen I decide to do the water pump.
The stop leak I used says it lubes up the water pump and seals the system, it was a liquid with metalic type shavings inside, so hopefully that will spare me a month.....lol
Also NeonRacer My head gasket is good right now,No antifreeze smell in exhaust and no sluggishness or white smoke,engine runs like a top with the exception of the water pump leak and even with the pump leaking I don't hear the bearing making noise so I might have some time left with adding the stop leak and coolant.
Thanks for the info guys! : )
Then you can have peace of mind knowing the job was done completely and not have to worry about it later on - nor spend double the time of having to re-do it again for not replacing a simple $30 part!