Water Pump Advice? (failure)
Water Pump Advice? (failure)
My water pump is going. It failed about this same time last year & I replaced it with an aftermarket pump from AB (the cheaper of the two). In hindsight, I guess that wasn't the best choice. I should have went with the OE pump.
Besides bad luck or a cheap pump, what could cause two failures within a year? My first though would be the tensioner pulley, but I don't really have the means to start throwing parts money at it. Any ideas or experience?
When the pump failed last April, I replaced the pump, the belt, the fan, the T-stat, and the radiator.
Besides bad luck or a cheap pump, what could cause two failures within a year? My first though would be the tensioner pulley, but I don't really have the means to start throwing parts money at it. Any ideas or experience?
When the pump failed last April, I replaced the pump, the belt, the fan, the T-stat, and the radiator.
Baja
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 318
From: Boston Strong
bad pump for sure, I have 2-3 years on mine from AB. I did not go with the NOS part i used thier aftermarket brand. There is a germany brand on ebay that has needle bearings and a bronze impeller but thet run a bout $150.00
Last edited by drowssap; Mar 14, 2013 at 09:25 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,322
Likes: 88
From: Savannah Georgia
X2 on the clutch. If you held onto the same dance partner, and spun around the dance floor 60 million times (50,000 miles at 30 miles an hour) - you'ld know where every wart was on that partner. Change one part, and what was a minor annoyance to the old one becomes a major imbalance to the new one. When it starts to wobble it is eating metal inside. Fan clutch and water pumps love to jump off the cliff holding hands....
New clutch is like $60 (Chevy 2000 Express van, 4.3 liter, w/o AC). Used clutch from boneyard is like $15 (similary year Chevy / GMC - six inch reverse rotation same WP thread)
New clutch is like $60 (Chevy 2000 Express van, 4.3 liter, w/o AC). Used clutch from boneyard is like $15 (similary year Chevy / GMC - six inch reverse rotation same WP thread)
Last edited by Savannah Buzz; Mar 14, 2013 at 09:32 AM.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,707
Likes: 107
From: Denver, Colorado
Don't buy another cheap water pump. Go to British Parts of Utah or Atlantic British and buy one that is made by Airtex and has a very large brass impellor, comes with a 2 year warranty and is a goord pump.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,322
Likes: 88
From: Savannah Georgia
We all take great care to have a balanced drive shaft, and it spins at a lower rpm. And some guys have their wheels balanced several times. But we'll gouge a pulley and think nothing of it....
And not everyone has the pocket change to swap out every part, sometimes you can just afford enough parts to keep the truck running to make it to work next week.
And not everyone has the pocket change to swap out every part, sometimes you can just afford enough parts to keep the truck running to make it to work next week.