85euro928

It's been two years since I pulled the engine, did a top end refresh, new gears, Gates racing belt, WP, PKensioner, oil pump refresh, etc, etc, I figured it was time to change the coolant and flush everything before the start of the season. Since I'd be pulling the coolant hoses anyway I thought I would just keep on going and pull the covers, etc and check to see if the faint odd noise coming from the area of the WP was the pump itself or the PKensioner, or maybe something else. Long story short I found that the coolant was a little darker than I would have expected, that there is a black deposit of some sort along the top of the coolant reservoir (not oily), and a little belt dust on the inside of the covers. I also found that the WP spins easily but has a little play when rocked up and down. The odd thing is the play in the pump seems to only occur along 120 degrees or so of the pump? I think I know the answer to my question but I figured I'd see what experiences others have had with a failing pump. BTW, the pump is about 2 1/2 YO, but has only been in operation for less than two years and about 8k miles, and it's a new Laso pump with a plastic impeller.

SeanR

There should not be any axial play in the impeller. As to the black stuff, I find that every time someone has put Water Wetter in the system.

85euro928

Crap, not even a little BTW, I did use Water Wetter.

Thanks

PorKen

Interesting...thanks for that.

danglerb

Pictures might help.

I wonder if the black line is a good or bad thing? Cleaning something out, or just residue?

85euro928

For some reason I can't post a pic, but anyway after pulling the pump I don't think this is necessarily a tell-tale sign (in my case) of a pump that's failing as the impeller never touched the block, which is where I thought the residue was coming from. If you were to look at the pulled pump you'd think it was brand new, but if you spin it you can definitely hear the bad bearing that was making the noise. So much for trying to determine other symptoms of impending WP failure.

AirtekHVAC

I've had pumps that weep, I've had them rattle, and I've had the impellers come off....no sense in risking it, huh? Hope it goes back together easily.

I expect mine will fly apart soon, as long as she has been sitting, I have not yet replaced any belts, I'm hoping they will all hold for the road test, then I'll start pulling the pump and timing belt off!

See you at SITM!

85euro928

Ron,
How many miles are on your car? If your engine is non-interference I might be tempted to just flush the coolant system and block and leave the original WP. I wish I had.

85euro928

I'm finally able to upload pics. Here's a pic of the coolant reservoir.

linderpat

how do you test the water pump for movement or excessive play? Do you have to remove the timing belt covers to manipulate it?

85euro928

Yes, remove the belt and rock it up and down. With mine it only rocked thru about a third of the rotation (120 degrees) so you may want to turn it through four - 90 degree positions and try rocking it at each position.

AirtekHVAC

Already flushed it all out before I cranked it for the first time, then refilled with half water and half MB coolant.

I think it is about 64k on the odo....

MFranke

Listen to the pump with a mechanics stethoscope.

For those with stock tensioners, intermittent tension warning lights, assuming tension is correct and contacts good, also can foretell pump failure.

85euro928

I didn't need a stethoscope to hear that mine was going bad. The bearing wasn't loud enough that you would notice the noise when you opened up the hood but if you got a little closer you could just hear it over the engine noise. Now that the pump is off you can really hear the noise when you spin it by hand.