Sooo much fun! Not really, it took about 4 hours from start to finish. I highly suggest removing the power steering resivour and move the tube to the side. If I had to re-do one aspect that would be it.

The procedure is pretty easy the hardest thing is gettin the tensor back in and for me since my hands are large putting the cover plates on with the damn RTV, that is the only thing I am not sure about. I may have to re seal them if it didnt take I had a really hard time getting them on without rubbing some of the sealant off..


The RTV sealant has been drying for about 6 hours now, when should I start the car up? And I will start a new thread soon but I found an oil leak :/ I belive its the oil pump line, I will take pics sometime... lol

 

The RTV has set long enough by now for you to drive the car. Thanks for the tip about moving the ps reservoir.

 

I just drove it around the block, man does that chain sound scarry for about a minuete after you start it up haha. I just checked my oil and it looks like it may have some coolant in it even though I changed it after I pulled the pump... I even ran a quart threw after it all drained out... Is this normal?

I also noticed that when I put it in nuetral and rev it wants to die then revs as normal after a couple seconds. When its in gear it feels the same, do I just need to let the chain tigten up? I only drove it down the block and back.

I made 3 marks on the crank pully to make sure I put it back in the right place. Also another tip for me I had a hard time getting the pump out and I finally realized it was because I went too far on the crank pull probably 35 degrees when I went back to abotu 20-25 it had enough slack to come off.

 

wow. any chance of a DIY writeup?

 

I used the 4th gen write up, its the same. But now my fans wont turn on and its overheating!! I saw a thread a while back where they had the same problem, time to search!

If you go to the 4th gen page its in the stickies.

It has not taken any "new" coolant since I replaced it. I lost quiet a bit when I took the pump out so I over-filled the reservoir thinking it would suck it up but it has not. Do you think there is air in the system?

Also looking at the reservoir there are some floating black things, they look like dirt or something which I did not have before I changed the pump out...

I found a thread about a guy who had his fans constantly on when he changed the pump, but that is the opposite of what is happening to me lol.

Well it seems anytime I post something like this it fixes itself lol. I went back out there and the coolant was all gone from the reservoir, so I added more let it idle with the rad cap off saw a couple of bubbles and now its been idling for 15 mins and its well below the half way mark on the temp gauge. And for some reason the cooling fans kick on now... lol

Just drove to work (30 miles) and everything is perfect! The lag in throttle went away, and no more overheating.

Oh another note be super careful when you (jack) the water pump out. You should be able to rotate the pump a bit then jack it out, because if you don't then you risk the change of damaging the threads on the motor with all that pressure.

http://www.vqpower.com/v2/articles.php?article_id=68

just in case you cant find it.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I went outside for lunch and saw a small puddle under my car... GRRR! It might be the plate over the water pump, I had a hell of a time with the RTV I may have a gap, I will check when I get home :/

 

That really sucks. Silver lining-You'll be able to give everyone else first hand advice on the best method.

 

LOl yea, I really think its the plate over the pump. Like I said I had a hell of a time with the RTV, I was so tired/grumpy by the end of the install.

 

The cover plate is NOT sealing coolant (or it certainly should not have coolant leaking from it)......it prevents the leakage of oil and crankcase vapors from the timing chain case only. If BOTH "O" rings on the coolant pump had somehow been damaged upon the pump installation then coolant could be leaking into the timing chain case and would contaminate the oil. If both "O" rings, or only the "inner" "O" ring on the pump housing was damaged and leaking coolant then coolant would/should drip from the "seal leakage indication" hole in the area of/above the AC compressor (just like it does when the pump shaft seal leaks).

 

Well, my resivoir is almost full and the only leak I found when I got home was actually the A/C water condensation. But it smells like coolant, I think there is still a small leak somewhere.

 

If the radiator is low on coolant, you have to add coolant directly into the radiator by removing the cap in the center of the radiator. Adding coolant to the plastic container by the fender does not go directly into the radiator. It does go in eventually, after the engine cools off. When the engine is started and heats up, the coolant expands and the overflow goes into the plastic container. That's how the black stuff got in the container.

 

Chances are you need to bleed the cooling system. It can be more of a pain than replacing the water pump.

Do you have good heat in the car? Blower on max, the air should just about burn you after 5-10 seconds.

 

Yes I filled it via that radiator cap, not my first time messing with a coolant system.

I had air in the system and it was overheating but now it seems to be fine when I turn the heat up it is very hot per usual.

The only thing I am experiencing now is the coolant smell. Which was apparnt before I replaced the water pump. I honesltly wasn't even sure the water pump was bad I just figured its cheap and relativly easy to replace.

 

That antifreeze smell hangs in there. I replaced my radiator 2 weeks ago and I still smell the antifreeze. We're having a drought here so I guess I will have to get the garden house out and flood the engine compartment.

 

LOL I know its annoying as hell, I wan't to know if I still have a leak or not... I guess a few days driving I will be able to tell if the reservoir dramatically changes or I get a pool of coolant on the ground...

 

Which water pump did you use?

 

I used the one from autozone, it was 55 dollars it's made by Duralast I believe. Anyways Wife says the car does not smell and has no leaks so far. I guess it may have just been the A/C condensation uder my car the other day and the smell was from the coolant that spilled on the motor when changing it out? I hope so lol.

Son of a! Started to smell coolant again last night... Never ending coolant leak .com

 

I read where someone had a phantom coolant smell and it ended up being the rear water outlet gasket on the driver's rear corner of the block.

 

maybe you didnt seal it up right? or maybe it actually was the cooling pipes...but doing my water pump (had my mechanic/father in law do mine) solved my coolant issue...

 

Well I never knew if it was or was not the water pump. I think it was NOT the water pump. When I took the pump out I saw a ton of coolant gush from the weep hole... That was not the area my original leak was in. Doesn't mean it was not the pump but I doubt it. I was super super careful inserting the pump and I torqued all bolts to spec. And I did about 1/4-1/2 turn on each in a sequence like top bottom right top bottom right. I know I still could have messed up but I don't think my problem is the water pump. I need to go get a dye kit and check for leaks that way... I was trying to avoid it but I don't think I have a choice... sigh

Picked up some UV dye and a light/glasses kit. Of corse I put it in let it run for a while drive around and no coolant smell and nothing leaking... this is pissing me off lol. I checked all over and there is no dye apparent yet.

Man I just spent 2 hours looking for the damn leak. I drove hard for 20 mins... turned on the heater then the air then the heat trying to see if anything particular caused it too leak.

I get home I can smell coolant, it wasn't strong but apparent.So I pull off the plastic guards under the car and get my light and glasses out. I get sort of excited when I see a very faint green glowing, but I cant trace it to anything that would leak coolant, which scared me.

Then I pull the dipstick and its glowing, not super bright but it makes me think OMG its leaking into the motor! But then I go get some of new oil and pour it on some cardboard and it glows the same. I am relieved... But I STILL CANT FIND THIS LEAK!!!

I refilled my reservoir (about an inch low) washed my engine off after it cooled down and I will just check it again when or if it smells like coolant.

Is there a section of the forums to see if there is anyone in my area who would be willing to come help me out? I feel like I need another set of eyes but I don't have any car friends in this area since I moved here about 2 years ago :/

Do you think I should tighten my hose clamps on the hose I replaced a month or so ago? I don't see a leak but I guess if it was leaking like 1-2 drops it could give off the smell after being burned off?

Haha sorry bro! I feel you on that one, and thanks for the info!

 

go to the section for regions and see if you can get some help. i know of your aggravations...i just pulled off my UIM (worse job i've ever had to do on a car) only to find out my rear VC is NOT leaking

i just want to know where the smell of either burnt oil/exhaust is coming from. i'm going to take my car back to the exhaust shop soon because i have another resonator and a cutout to install and tell them to make sure that they check the bolts and the weld beads because im still smelling shiet....sorry about the ad lib lol just pissed, thats all

 

I feel you bro, this is driving me insane! And once I figure this out I have to find my oil leak... fun stuff! And I still have to fix my damn EGR code.