RennPartsDirect

So my mechanic just finished an 8 hour install of a new Lasso water pump, Pork tensioner, timing belt, and everything else up front on my '89 (all from 928srus) and as soon as the engine was started it began leaking from the water pump itself. Before he tears everything off again is there something he might have missed? He is pretty confident that the pump is defective. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Installing it twice is not exactly what I budgeted for...

jcorenman

Ouch!! Given that the water pump is hidden behind the center belt cover, I think some tearing apart is going to be needed. There is nothing simple that can be addressed from the outside, once it is buttoned up.

If the pump seal is leaking then it will be dripping out the weep-hole under the pulley. This is the only thing I can think of that would be a defective-part problem, the rest is assembly errors.

With a PKT the shoulder bolt is not used, was that threaded hole properly plugged and sealed? (I used red loctite to seal it, back when I messed around with PKTs).

Are they sure that the pump was properly seated? I've seen some Laso pumps where the dowel-pin holes were off a bit, and the pump wouldn't seat against the gasket without reaming out one of the holes. (Again, this was some time ago, no recent experience).

SeanR

I'd guess that either the gasket was ripped on install or the wrench forgot to plug the hole for the roller.

Staff@WORLD

One of the worst cars for this situation to happen with. These are the days that it's tough to be a mechanic.

marine928

Similar thing happened to me on my first diy belt/wp install. I substituted the original tensioner for a pkt and did not plug the hole for the roller. Start it up and look for the leak origin. May have to put on rack to see it.
The LASO's are usually quality checked ( unless china copy).

Mrmerlin

To see if the weep hole is leaking,
the driver side cam cover should be removed.

To see if its leaking from the tensioner pivot,
the passenger side belt cover must be removed.

Since a modification to the belt run was made, that deleted the tensioner
I would inspect the tensioner pivot first as that involves the pivot .

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

It's obviously a guess, but I agree with Stan (duh!). Suspect the nonplugged hole vs. WP.
Still have to remove some items, but better than if WP.
Good luck,
Dave

ROG100

Sorry that you are having a problem.
I have never had a leaking Laso pump out of the box before.
As already said important to determine where the leak is.
As already said probably the tensioner hole in the WP was not plugged as per the instructions.

RennPartsDirect

Thank you all for all the suggestions thus far. I've been passing them along as they come in. Hopefully it's a simpler fix than pulling everything off and starting over again... We shall see.

Randy V

Just another benefit of the Porktensiuoner!

RennPartsDirect

Can someone post a picture of this hole that needs to be plugged???

mj1pate

just to mention that the pass side belt cover is a comparative snap to remove. So,check whatever you can from that perspective/view first. Viewing an active leak through the aperture with the pass cover removed and engine running can be a challenge, but harbor freight sells a cheap boroscope that can likely give you a view down in that opening with engine running while you are out of harms way. Don't let the boroscope extended tube nick the moving timing belt

PorKen

Depending on whether an early or late water pump is used, either a 8mm or 10mm SS bolt and copper washer is installed (both types included in the PKT hardware kit).

polecat702

There's a reason we as owners change our own water pumps and timing belt. This kind of stuff doesn't happen.

RennPartsDirect

I have a full time day job, a full time side business selling Porsche parts, a wife, a 5 year old, a 3 year old, a 4 month old, and several other Porsches that I'm working on. One man can only do so much...