Just want to say thanks to the fellow Orgers who posted the Waterpump replacement write up....without it I would have been toast...especially the "remove the chain tensioner part". Now I enjoy a working waterpump. Thanks Orgers.

 

How did you remove the chain tensioner part, i am just to do this hard work, give your experince, thank you very much.

 

way to go; nicely done; appreciate this it'll come in handy

 

Nice, how long did it take you to do it? I'm going to change mine pretty soon.

 

Read the very first post.

 

When you removed the chain tensioner, did you have some method to protect the piston or spring pop out down into the time chain cover. thanks.

 

you have to remove it very carefully, i found some scrap cardboard to cover up the timing chain cover hole, so it wouldn't fly out. when i took mine out, it shot out, but not into the timing cover. when doing the waterpump be prepared to get your hands cut off because of tight spaces

 

Thank you, let me try.

 

hmm I thought our water pumps can last the life of our cars? or is that the timing belt? lol I know its one of em...

 

They pretty much do last the life of the car, they are built VERY well. The rubber rings/gaskets usually are the first things that fail, if your doin all that work to replace the seals most people just change it out with a new water pump while they are at it...

I just did this a few months ago

 

When you are removing the tensioner, instead of trying to stick a pin in that hole, try using a rubber or vinyl glove or a small plastic bag or some sort of a pouch or perhaps a small sock and basically try to bag the tensioner, the plunger and the spring. Please tell me if it works when you're done.

Edit: Obviously, the two bolts holding the tensioner has to be slightly loosened before sliding the glove onto the tensioner.


Just imagine the setup below is still inside the vq.

 

when the tensioner popped out, it scared me, very luck, it did't drop down to the time chain cover. i used a long screw driver with a piece of cloth block up a hole and than take out the whole part of the tensioner. the water pump then take it out. Oh my God this is a hard hard work...anyway, thanks to every one, all you give me the big help.

 

All in all...it took me about two days to complete the dissasembly and assembly.....but that's between work and diapers to change......it took a bunch of scrapes and screams to be able to keep the piston from falling into the hole of " oh Shiet!!"...I held it with my finger...my ring finger that is....I could not believe how much the piston moved once you remove one bolt from the tensioner block itself...either way....I was able to keep it from poppin' out...(thank God)...once it was out....and once I cought my breath...I was able to put it back (with the help of another person)..I actually stuck a ribbon rack (military stuff) pin in the hole....(a pin the size of a common sawing needle) once the bolts were in....it was just pulled it off and it was all good. My drivebelt was another story.....it was the original one from 94 1/2...and it was Fu$%^&!!!! Like I stated in the first post....thanks to the Org....or else I would probably been looking for an engine right about now.

 

today i finished the water pump assembly, most time i used a long string tight a knot on every bolts, protected it drop, as the bolt set it into position, then drew the sring out,with a wrench tight all bolts. final replace the two covers, i still used the string, my right hand took the string ,it hung the cover from top drop down to the position, my left hand with two fingers grip one srew thro into the narrow gap try to set the screw into point. ok,every thing smooth going. and i thanks every one and the org again who give the big help.

 

Glad you were able to complete it without anything falling into the engine.