Am I crazy?

[aguilla112]

Okay, I'm trying to change out my water pump and it is kicking my butt. I've thought about towing it to a mechanic at least 20 times in the last 3 minutes...

I'm using the good old floor-jack-under-the-oil-pan routine (no cherry picker).
Getting all of the bolts from the t/b cover is tough enough, so how in the heck am I going to tackle the actual replacement of the belt and w/p?

Is it even possible to do all the necessary repairs w/just a floor jack? Thanks

 

[knochgoon24]

Yep. I've done it. Just take your time. It's hardest your first time.

 

[jjrock5]

Not hard, just time consuming.

Loosen water pump and crank pulleys before pulling off the belts
jack engine up to support it
pull off the engine mount
pull off all belts
pull off water pump and crank pulleys
pull off the timing covers
unbolt the water pump
pry pump off because it's probably stuck on there from old RTV
you may have to move engine up and down with jack to get enough access to remove old pump
Done

 

[aguilla112]

Yep. I've done it. Just take your time. It's hardest your first time.

Alright. I'm basing not running my head through a wall on your recommendation .
Thanks for the glimmer of hope

Not hard, just time consuming.

Loosen water pump and engine pulleys before pulling off the belts
jack engine up to support it
pull off the engine mount
pull off all belts
pull off the timing covers
unbolt the water pump
pry pump off because it's probably stuck on there from old RTV
you may have to move engine up and down with jack to get enough access to remove old pump
Done

Did you mess w/the crankshaft pulley? It looked to me that it had to come off to get the lower cover off.

Did you mess w/the crankshaft pulley? It looked to me that it had to come off to get the lower cover off.

 

[thomcasey]

Yes, you need to remove the crankshaft pulley too, otherwise the cover will not come off.

 

[aguilla112]

Thanks. I'll quit being a wuss and try and tackle it after work. Thanks again

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Remember - Remove the 4 12mm bolts in the crank pulley, not the large center nut as some have been known to do.

 

[aguilla112]

Remember - Remove the 4 12mm bolts in the crank pulley, not the large center nut as some have been known to do.

Really? People try that? I never even thought about doing that.
Thanks for the tip

 

[SrKegler]

It helps to have skinny fingers. The front cover is the hardest part in my opinion. Wait until you try and put it back on. I think there's 4 different length bolts. Kind of like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together.

Always a first time for everything. It will get easier each time. After you finish you'll understand why everyone recommends replacing everything (timing belt, tensioner, pulleys, water pump) while you have the cover off.

Good luck, just takes a little perservence and about a case of beer.

 

[minimoose]

Remember - Remove the 4 12mm bolts in the crank pulley, not the large center nut as some have been known to do.

i didnt even know that came off.

 

[andrewrnava]

its so annoying but possible

 

[ALLOUT CL55]

take your time...taking it out was a pain my first time too!

 

[darkiller_666]

I have done it several times in the garage/driveway!!!

 

[Dhan]

Don't know if you've already finished the t-belt job, but I always take two scrap pieces of cardboard and draw an outline of the water pump on one and the t-belt lower cover on the other. Then I punch holes in the cardboard where the bolts go and stick each bolt in the hole that corresponds to where it goes on the block. Makes reassembly a bit easier.

I've done the job with a floor jack in the gravel three times now. Gets easier and faster every time. GL

 

[phunny]

Don't know if you've already finished the t-belt job, but I always take two scrap pieces of cardboard and draw an outline of the water pump on one and the t-belt lower cover on the other. Then I punch holes in the cardboard where the bolts go and stick each bolt in the hole that corresponds to where it goes on the block. Makes reassembly a bit easier.

I've done the job with a floor jack in the gravel three times now. Gets easier and faster every time. GL

That's my trick thief...

 

[dwdsm]

That's my trick thief...

and now I'm stealing it too! What a good idea.

You can do it just hand in there! You will be happy you did it yourself in the end.

 

[97tal420a]

yeah its a pain

 

[starktech1]

Dido on the cardboard routine!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aguilla112]

Don't know if you've already finished the t-belt job, but I always take two scrap pieces of cardboard and draw an outline of the water pump on one and the t-belt lower cover on the other. Then I punch holes in the cardboard where the bolts go and stick each bolt in the hole that corresponds to where it goes on the block. Makes reassembly a bit easier.

That's my trick thief...

I've done the job with a floor jack in the gravel three times now. Gets easier and faster every time. GL

I'm not completely done w/the job, but I've gotten the new pump on. I've been taking my sweet time on it.

I use cardboard, but I usually use it to draw a diagram of what I'm pulling. Then I number the bolts, nuts etc. I'll either use a soapstone or one of the paint sticks I get from work (writes on oil, rust, slag). Your trick is handy too though!

 

[faudin]

Yea good luck, never alot of fun. hope you have beer haha.

 

[91mits]

to the op did you have to remove your timing belt to get to the water pump? i thought you had to since on of the timing pulleys blocks a bolt of holding the water pump...just wondering...

 

[AlexPro]

Here man! Enjoy...
Timing Belt VFAQ

 

[aguilla112]

to the op did you have to remove your timing belt to get to the water pump? i thought you had to since on of the timing pulleys blocks a bolt of holding the water pump...just wondering...

I took the pump off first. It was blocking my access to the tensioner. And yes, there is a pulley blocking the W/P. It was the first thing I took off after I got the T/B cover off.

 

[aguilla112]

Alright, I still have not finished the job (busy w/work, new baby, etc.). I got the water pump on, belts replaced and put the tensioner on and got a gap that is w/in spec.
My problem is, when I was rotating the crankshaft I got to a point in the rotation where it would not budge at all. I put all of my body weight into it and everything. I put a torque wrench on it, and I was easily putting 75 ft-lbs into it. Also before this, the belt slipped off of the oil pump sprocket.

I'm thinking of starting completely over. Anyone know a) if there's something I can do to pick back up, or b) what I'm not doing correctly that would make the tension in the belt so lax it would slip off of the sprocket?
Thanks