New water pump problem

[BritNicholson]

Today, I put in a new water pump because my old one is bad. I got the new one through the parts department at the dealership at which I work. They ordered it from a local import parts dealer, and it arrived the next morning. I put everything back together today and started the engine up, only to find out that the water pump and its pulley do not spin, the belt just slides along the pulley. Also, I much of the coolant I had just added could be seen pouring out from underneath the car after I shut off the engine. The impeller on the new pump looked slightly different than on the old one. The new one was completely round while the old one had splines around the circumference. Does anyone know what could have caused this problem?

Brit

[greensmurf20]

i wonder if the impeller wasnt "thicker" and when you tightened the water pump down the impeller is just held tighter against the front of the timing chain cover. a picture of it would help, and where is the engine coolant coming from?

[BritNicholson]

I couldn't tell exactly from where the coolant was coming, but I'm pretty sure it was coming from the area of the water pump. When the old one was in, coolant appeared to be travelling out to the end of the pulley and dripping onto the pulley below it. A guy at work said my old pump was bad after spinning it once it was out. I had thought maybe the new pump isn't the right one--it could be that the new impeller is thicker. The thing was almost identical, though, and bolted right in with no apparent problems.

[greensmurf20]

your old waterpump probably had the bearing fail, which lets the shaft get sloppy and wobble. once that happens it usually takes the shaft seal out, quite common once a car has sat for a while.

its not spinning so its gotta come back out anyhows. measure the distance from the back of the impeller to the mounting surface of waterpump, and compare to the origional. assuming you spun the new pump before you installed it?

[BritNicholson]

Yeah, I made sure it spins. I might not get a chance to take that thing out for another three weeks. The car is an hour away at work and I go on a three week vacation to Minnesota and Alaska on Monday. I am worried about how I will get to work and school when I get back. Maybe I can pay one of the guys at work to fix it while I am gone. So much for being the only one to work on my opel. It did sit for a while. I bought it and had it sent out here from California last September. The guy said it was barely driven since 1980. I am thinking about ordering a water pump from Gil, as I know that one will be right.

[greensmurf20]

another thought to cross my mind just now is if you lost a bolt, and replaced it with even a slightly longer one, or forgot to put a washer on one of those bolts, it may be just long enough to catch on the webbings of the water pump, and may actually just be a bolt holding it up, not the impeller or anyhting its self. i've done this one before too :o

[David McCollam]

When you take the water pump off, back off all the bolts 1-2 turns and test the pump shaft to see if it spins. If not, back off another 1-2 turns. If the pump shaft will spin after this, you know its the impeller in contact with the back of the timing cover. Also, it may be the diameter of the impeller as well as the depth. Measure across the face of the impeller as well when you remove it.

Good luck.

[baronbors]

You didn't mention a new seal. You did put in a new seal, didn't you?

[RallyBob]

It is feasible the impeller is not pressed into the bearing far enough and therefore hitting the timing cover. I've seen this only twice, but perhaps stacking two gaskets would solve the issue for you....

Bob

[BritNicholson]

Is a gasket the same thing as a seal? I did put in a new gasket. I used all of the bolts that were holding the old pump in. When I took them out I seperated the driver's side from the passenger side. I know all of the washers were on there still because I couldn't even pull them off. A frend of mine will try to fix it while I'm on vacation. I will suggest to him the ideas posted here and hopefully he will be able to fix it. Thanks for all of the help.

[BritNicholson]

Well, I fixed the problem about a month ago, but I should reveal what was wrong in case it happens to someone else:

Not long after I found out that my water pump wasn't spinning with the engine, I noticed that I had forgot to reinstall the spacer between the water pump and the fan, as it was still sticking to the old water pump. I told someone at work and they said that it wasn't a big deal; it just puts the fan closer to the radiatior. After I drove to Alaska and back I pulled the radiator out again. I noticed that the fan would spin by hand just a little bit and then stop. So I took the fan off and spun the water pump by hand no problem. It was then that I noticed that I had little marks on the outside of the water pump from the threads of the bolts that hold the fan to the pump. Because the spacer wasn't there, the bolts were hitting the outside of the water pump. I still don't know why I had coolant leaking when the spacer wasn't in there, though.

[GTJIM]

Well, I fixed the problem about a month ago, but I should reveal what was wrong in case it happens to someone else:

Because the spacer wasn't there, the bolts were hitting the outside of the water pump. I still don't know why I had coolant leaking when the spacer wasn't in there, though.

Without a doubt the bolts striking the water pump body gave the poor wee seal a real workout by pulling the shaft forward and deflecting it at the same time! With luck you have not damaged it - sealing now is it?

[BritNicholson]

Yeah, the coolant doesn't leak any more. I hope it didn't sound like I drove the GT to Alaska with that water pump not turning; of course, that would be impossible.