water pump

[pvcar]

well i decided i was going to drive my gt from los angeles to el paso texas saturday night, well all was good until about the town of casa grande, that is were i stoped to grab something to eat and then coolant all over the ground in my parking spot, so i proceed to trouble shoot the situation no its not the hoses no its not the overflow tube, it dosent appear to be leaking from the head. so i decide to start the car up and see if i can see were the leak is, it was leaking from somewhere around the bottom of the water pump or even worse the seal were the pulley is on the water pump, so i decide to call the three local auto parts stores to see if they have on by some chance, well they could all order one and have with in a day or two, that didnt help me i had 12 hours to get back to el paso. well i decided to take a chance poured some radiator stop leak in the radiator filled it up and started driving needles to say it worked and i made it, now im just wait for auto zone to get in a water pump here in el paso. one other qustion i had what should the tension be on the belt after i replace the water pump??

[pecje]

Originally Posted by pvcar one other qustion i had what should the tension be on the belt after i replace the water pump??

Glad to hear you made it back home.
According to the OpelGT Owners workshop manual the tension of the fan belt is correct when the belt can be manually flexed by approx. 1/2 inch midway between the generator pulley and the fan pulley.
Succes fixing the car, changing the waterpump isn't that difficult.
Best regards Patrick

[ungermm]

Originally Posted by pecje the belt can be manually flexed by approx. 1/2 inch midway between the generator pulley and the fan pulley.

Yes, if your belt is too tight you'll wear out a pump or alternator bearing pretty quick. If it's too loose, you will see the belt flap or oscillate and you might not get the pump or alternator to work like they should. I think another rule of thumb is that you should be able to twist the belt 90 degrees.
Jerry

[jvandyke]

I can tell when my belt is loose. It squeals when the rpms get up there. 1/2" deflection, 1/4" up another 1/4" down or so I've read. I haven't heard the twist 90 method.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by jvandyke I can tell when my belt is loose. It squeals when the rpms get up there...

I've been observing something interesting with my fan belt. I tightened the belt to the proper tension per the FSM (using the flex test as referenced above) and then used a sharpie to place a small mark on the bracket and the bolt that holds the alternator in place. I test drove the car and did not hear any squeal. Next day, the squeal is back. I check my marks - no movement of the bolt (I assumed things had loosened up - but no). So now I figure the belt is stretching out but tests show the same amount of flex - the belt is in proper adjustment. Long story short, the pattern appears to be that the belt will squeal initially but as the car is driven more I can get higher and higher RPM levels with no squeal. I have tried the OGTS belt and a belt from Pep Boys that they said was the best belt they had in terms of quality - same results. My current theory is that the belt heats up and grips better as it gets hotter. The belt is in proper adjustment so that isn't the problem.

Matt

[Anonymous D]

From Item #8 of the "GT Things to Know" article

"Carry a selection of critical Opel parts in the car: Fan Belt, Water Pump, Fuel Pump, Ignition Points & Condensor, Lower Radiator Hose, Hose Clamps, and Gaskets. (Good place is in rim of a spare). Tools to carry include metric 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 & 19mm wrenches, with "special" 8, 10 & 12mm serrated bits, feeler gauges, 13mm stubby wrench and 11, 13 & 15mm obstruction wrenches. Supplies to carry: Tire & gasket sealers, starter spray and flashlight."

This information, when followed, can help you to solve difficult situations encountered when travelling.

GT "Things to Know"

[West Coast GT]

Another option is to get on the phone as soon as you discover you need something like a pump and order an over-night drop from Opel GT Source. You can have them FedEx your part overnight to a motel room.

Chances are you could have filled the system with water at the gas station and drive a few miles to hole-up at a motel. Then drive somewhere the next day to an appropriate place to make the repair. (shaded, out of the way, empty parking lot near a parts store)

Or, drive to a repair shop with the over-nighted pump and pay to have it installed.

I'm not a mechanic, but I steer well clear of any type of stop leak type material. When your system loses coolant in the future it can coagulate and begin closing off coolant passages like an old bacon-lover's arteries. (can't find the emoticon having a heart attack)

But since its already in, perhaps you can flush it out (but don't simply drain it out).

[pvcar]

well i will have my water pump at noon tommorow but i found out today i will probally not have time to do it tommorow hopefully it will be fixed by the weekend. well the radiator stop leak i used is the military grade type got some from my supply guy and always keep it in my cars, i am deffinetly gonna flush the system though to make sure it is clean. in accordance to the other message i did have my 155 piece craftsman tool set in the back, so i was good on the tool factor, i had a fan belt, fuel pump, starter, points and condensor, starter and brake clean, oil 20/50 and 80/90, and silicone sealer as well i have a ton of military grade JB weld. the only problem about even overnighting the part from ogts would have been i trully didnt have enough time, i had to be at work at 0700 this morning or i would have been out-of-ranks which would have been very bad, if i had anthor day i probally would have. anthor thing do we still have that thing on this site that shows were all the members are from i know it was on here at one time, i tried calling my brother and have look on here for it and see if any fellow opelrs were near by that could have helped out.

[namba209]

I know there is or used to be a site member in El Paso, but Gary has the member's map locked out with the new upgrade still being massaged.

[pvcar]

thats probably why my brother couldnt find it on the site he was trying to find it for me as i talked him through the site, and he couldnt find it, know i no its not accesible right now do to udgrades.

[tomking]

Isnt FrandDaTank from El Paso? Look him up.