water pump question

[Anonymous]

I have a "shhhhhh-shing" noise from up front by water pump. I noticed my temp gauge is riding about 1/2 way...it was 1/4 until like a month ago. (dont know when sound started)

I had a new head gasket a few months ago and havent riden it hard at all.

could my water pump be going/gone? could the impellers have failed?

it never over heats...just running hotter.

HOW DO YOU CHECK A WATER PUMP?

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

from my past they either leak alot of just GO

I had one go on the 4th of july on the way to a friends house a few years ago in my TC......was just driving when I got a pop/woosh sound and looked in the mirror and it looked liek the daytona 500 with me hissing water and steam everywhere at 55mph so I pulled over called up my freinds to get me (was 5-10 mins away) and we swapped it out in a parking lot the next day.

moral of the story....unless it is starting to weap some coolant you will never know. on mine the bearing had failed and when it puked it took the seal with it.....BIG leak

 

[addo]

Well, have you done anything since the gauge was reading lower? Anything - like new stereo, lighting, aircon regas, new thermostat, muffler... Still using the same fuel?

How old is the pump? Can you squeeze the lower hose shut with your hand? How full the radiator?

 

[Anonymous]

radiator was flushed before when gasket was changed.

The pump is 3 years old, but has been thru 2 head gasket failures

nothing else new...same gas (not same tank)

I turned the idle down and it made a noticable difference so I assume its in the speed of teh engine. it sounds like bearings in the pump

Its an easy swtich so I guess I should change it
DO I HAVE TO REMOVE THE FAN? THATS A PAIN IN THE ASRE


hardest part is the draining in the apt complex garage...

 

[wsa111]

Since you put several head gaskets on, did you also go to head bolt studs?

Its sound like the right front head bolt which goes right into the water pump impeller area is hitting the water pump impeller.

If you put ARP haed bolt studs on you need to grind about 1/8" from the end that screws into the block. This could be your problem. William

 

[Anonymous]

no, orignal bolts on this sucker...cost issue then

its funy how it started like 2 months after head gasket change. it wasnt immediate

 

[shetland]

I had the same problem. turns out that the water pump impeller was hitting Cyl #1 inside the water jacket in the block. remove the water pump and look at the outside edge of the impeller and you should be able to tell if that is the case. you can also see inside of the water jacket once the water pump is out.
Fix was simple. I made another gasket out of extra thick gasket material and doubled up the gasket. that was enough to clear the impeller from everything.

 

[Anonymous]

The most significant failures cause a drip from a hole in the bottom of the pump, indicating bearing or seal failure.

You might try loosening the belt and rotating the pump by hand to see if you can feel or hear any resistance.

I suspect your thermostat might be frozen. They can lock in any position from fully open to closed, and in between. If it froze leaving a small gap where water could still pass, it might make a sound similar to what you describe. And it would raise your operating temp but wouldn't necessarily allow it to overheat.

By the way those temp gauges aren't very accurate. You can buy a candy thermometer for a couple of bucks, Just stick it down the radiator neck.

 

[powerband]

Using the principle of KISS , I would first make sure the noise you're hearing isn't the fanbelt. Noisy fanbelts can mimic many different engine noises. A simple test for fan belt noise involves spraying a little WD40 or a couple of drops of engine oil on the pulley side of the belt. If the noise clears up you solved the mystery, no change and you can go to the next level.
I usually do this with the engine running but do not recommend getting near any moving parts. I've been surprised at how a seemingly intact or new belt can sometimes screech, whistle, knock or drone with no good reason. Of course this doesn't explain the change in your cooling but I've seen a glazed belt cause that type of problem.

Powerband 8)

 

[Anonymous]

its funny because I can SEE when the termostat opens...it must work to some degree because i can see the temp drop....then see it rise again

I am going to try the belt thing...its still seems like a shhhushing sound and I know the pumps on these AINT THE BEST

 

[pedal2themetal45]

HI Chaz
A couple of questions
are you sure the rad is full of fluid? cold it should be about 1" below the cap lip. warmed up it should be full to the top..
What kind of fan are you running I have heard some aftermarket fans make noise like you are discribing.. flex fans and such..
Just a thought
tim

 

[Anonymous]

i have a flex fan....but it has been on about a year. Noise JUST started....

yep, fluids are full

 

[Anonymous]

whata about radiator cap...could that cause this problem? It looks old

 

[pedal2themetal45]

HI CHAZ
A bad cap would cause it to lose coolent and maybe overheat a little as it wouldn't be holding the right prusher..
I would start by pulling the fan belt and see if the noise stops then put it back on and remove fan to see if it is the cause (besure to put the bolts back in to hold the pully on).. then use something to put against the water pump to see if I could hear if the noise was comming for there (a hose, screwdriver ect.).
Good Luck
tim