Hearing a slight grinding style noise from the water pump area

 

How many miles ? listen to it closely. Unless you have good mechanical skills, I would leave the repair up to the dealership. Its hidden way in the engine, requires removal of the timing chain covers. Very big job, at the same time recomend doing all new timing chain tensioners.

 

As I learned on my 96 recently - look for very small leaks on your garage floor.

That pump will usually start leaking well in advance of dying.

 

If you replace the water pump...go ahead and do all the work.... icluding Timming Chain...............etc....... too expensive..to do it twice

 

You can look for leaks but if my memory serves me correct, I had several american cars for a while until I bought my Maxima. When the pump was going, there was a small relief hold that used to have steam or water coming out of it IF the pump was going bad. Usually you can see the hole from the top or you have to get under the car. As for Maxima's, I have not a clue until it does go. Good Luck and let us know what you find out.

Andy

 

yeah, the "weephole." We don't have such a thing, but as Max_Gator mentioned above, look for small coolant leaks on the garage floor... that's probably the rough equivalent.