Topic: Help! Water Pump Failure???
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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It's been many years since I had to mess with a water pump, and never on a corvette. Yesterday I was cruisin' and suddenly began to smell antifreeze. I had my passenger check around the footwell to see if there was any wetness and began watching the temp guage - it wasn't moving - yet! But then suddenly it began to swing to the right so I pulled over.
As soon as I stopped, with the engine running, the the needle began to drop back. I opened the hood and there was coolant sprayed everywhere. I shut the engine off and could see steam coming from somewhere near the heater hose inlet and where the water pump gasket meets the block, but it was too dang hot to get in there and see exactly what was really going on.
I gave it a quick check this evening and al the hoses seem to be O.K. Is it usual for there to be coolant spewing everywhere if the water pump fails?
Jim
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Sounds more like the gasket failed on that side. Replace them both. In my experience though, if you've got the pump off to replace the gasket it wouldn't hurt to replace it if it's pretty old. Usually, when they go bad, they leak out the bearing seal. And they'll always fail when you least want it to.
When I first bought mine, in fact on my first long drive, the gasket on one side failed . I replaced both and 2 days later the pump failed. So I had to replace them again. Sucked. Not sure if it's coincedence but...
JMHO
When I first bought mine, in fact on my first long drive, the gasket on one side failed . I replaced both and 2 days later the pump failed. So I had to replace them again. Sucked. Not sure if it's coincedence but...
JMHO
Lifetime Member #73
The Money Pit.... and my niece 
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Look at the small hole at the bottom of the bearing area behind the pulley. If there is any sign of seepage/water running, replace the pump even if the gaskets have failed.
It's really not a very hard job. Once the belts, pulley, and a couple of brackets are out of the way, there are only 4 bolts holding the pump to the engine.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Sounds like a hose...have you filled it back with water and started it to see if it leaked when cold?
Most of the time, the weep hole in the bottom of the pump will leak worse while running than not running, depending on the pressure in the system at the time.
the fact that you smelled anti freeze leans to a leak to the side, where it would splash on the exhaust. I've never seen a wp gasket just give up the ghost like that if it hasn't been worked on lately, but I guess anything is possible on our cars!
Most of the time, the weep hole in the bottom of the pump will leak worse while running than not running, depending on the pressure in the system at the time.
the fact that you smelled anti freeze leans to a leak to the side, where it would splash on the exhaust. I've never seen a wp gasket just give up the ghost like that if it hasn't been worked on lately, but I guess anything is possible on our cars!
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Joel-
To clarify, when mine blew out, it literally blew out. The car hadn't been run in a year or so and when I ran the heck out of it...
Lesson ...old dried out stuff leaks.
Lifetime Member #73
The Money Pit.... and my niece
(click to see a slightly larger version)
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Hey!
Are you implying that I leak?!?!?
Are you implying that I leak?!?!?
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
When my pump went, I heard a squealing like a belt being too loose, (could have been fluid on the belts), then a clattering like bbbaaaaddddd valve train noise, then the famous smell of Riunite Wine, er, ah, Antifreeze (for those not old enough, they found antifrees in Riunite wine in the '70's).
Popped the hood and green stuff was everywhere on the hood. Ended up to be a catastrophic bearing failure of the pump. We were also on a long run (foliage tour to Talamena drive) and had started home. We were about 50 miles south of nowhere, lucky to have cell coverage.
By chance, did you guys hear any peculiar noises or were the tunes cranked too loud?
You know, that's interesting because the last few times I started it up I heard an awful whining noise under the hood, but I assumed it was a dry belt. After it ran for about a minute or maybe two, it would stop altogether.
We didn't hear a sound when it "blew" - just the smell of the antifreeze.
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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