Can I drive with a bad water pump?

[95redturboawd]

The shop diagnosed the water pump as bad, and now they're not getting back to me. I know nothing about water pumps, but the shop diagnosed it as bad because the pulley has a little play in it. I'm not leaking coolant, not overheating, not smoking. I'm trying to go back home two and a half hours away for Thanksgiving but I'm not sure if it's ok to drive that far.

 

[ktgurl87]

you could. it might be okay, it might not be. if you do, i would be super easy on the car, and carry some extra coolant with ya just in case. other than that, i dunno

 

[Clinical]

Go ahead and drive it, but take an extra alternator belt with you, and watch your temp gauge!!

Also make sure just all the bolts in the pulley are actually tight, and that the pulley isnt on backwards.

Do you want to keep driving it this way? No.
However if it fails you will know it, your temp gauge will go up fast.

Order a new pump asap if you're positive the shop is correct and it's bad.

 

[96DSM_Steve]

I agree

 

[95redturboawd]

There's an extra alternator belt and coolant in the trunk already. Is there some way of distinguishing if the pulley is on backwards?

 

[90tsiawdturbo]

im sure you would be able to tell by looking at it....look at which way it aligns best... its kinda hard to belive someone could put it it on backwards but ya never know i think you shoud be fine but like stated above WATCH YOUR TEMPERATURE GAUGE!!!! no need to blow a headgasket for something like that

what was it doing wrong that you took it to a shop?

 

[95redturboawd]

Something was making a gnarly rumbling noise over 3k rpm and was vibrating the gas pedal. Upon closer inspection the power steering pump was moving around over 3k, if you held it down and revved there was no vibrating. Put on a new power steering pump and it was still moving around, that's when they checked the water pump pulley.

 

[LiquidX]

You could drive it but get it replaced ASAP. The water pump is what circulates the coolant throughout the system.

 

[1992GSX]

Personally I wouldn't drive my car 2 and a half hours with a bad water pump. IMO its risking too much.

 

[donniekak]

Are the 4 bolts holding the pulley's to the pump tight?

 

[travs_dsm]

Personally I wouldn't drive my car 2 and a half hours with a bad water pump. IMO its risking too much.

I agree with this. Is it possible for you to rent a car over Thanksgiving? Still if you do try it, watch that temperature gauge like a hawk and don't let your car overheat! Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[92AWDHX40]

Overheating, means problems, first sign i would park it figure out probleml, not drive unitl fixed. Unless i want to chance a smoked engine, I dont fix it then drive it.

 

[SmalltownDSMer]

I agree

With what?

Be a little more specific.

Op- Watch your temp gauge and carry a bottle or 2 of coolant like everyone said. It should be ok for the trip back.

Jayson

 

[dsmdream]

I agree with smalltowndsmer. Have some extra anti-freeze. Drive nice and have a good thanksgiving dinner/ visit with the family.

 

[Clinical]

I'm not sure if a 2g is different, but on 1g's it's very easy to put your water pump pulley on backwards. They go both ways and can easily be mistaken. Best way is to look straight down into and see if the pulley lines up with the crank pulley. I did it once, and I was going through an alternator belts every week.

 

[spyderdrifter]

I think you'll be okay if there's no signs of leakage.

I had a '97 GS-T Spyder before the cops took it from me and I had a leak on it's water pump. I replaced my clutch and forgot to use an engine brace while doing it. After the work was all finished I drove it home and it started overheating due to coolant loss. Looked at the pump and it wasn't cracked so I think I jacked up the seal. But I never got it fixed before I lost the car and ended up having to add coolant once every other week and had no other issues.

 

[gakattack456]

Get it fixed. It's not worth risking. If you do try it make sure you have AAA or your tools in the trunk. You won't lose coolant but it won't circulate properly and avoid high rpm.

 

[rommel rojasgsx]

i wouldnt chance it. its an easy fix and i got plenty of time till thanksgiving day. u have to spend the money anyways. rather than paying for pump and tow truck. but at the same time i dont know if i trust that shop. i always thought they leak before or while the pump shaft is going bad.

 

[MY1GDSM]

Why Chance it? It will only cost you more in the end if it has play it's not gonna just slowly stop working more then like likely it's gonna seize up leaving you stranded somewhere... .

If you did your own work I'd say Just Replace it! and do a T-belt job if you haven't had one done since your gonna have to pull the belt any way... If the shop is a reputable shop and you trust them Have it fixed.

Oh and it could easily loss coolant if it seizes ... .

 

[95redturboawd]

I didn't do the work on the water pump in the first place. I decided to risk it and drive home, the car made it with no problems. Temp never went over normal operating temperature and stayed lower than that for most of the time. However every time I rolled down the window it smelled sweet like coolant.

The bolts on the water pump pulley are tight, but I'm not understanding how to check if the pulley is on backwards...

 

[gsx4g64]

I didn't do the work on the water pump in the first place. I decided to risk it and drive home, the car made it with no problems. Temp never went over normal operating temperature and stayed lower than that for most of the time.

The bolts on the water pump pulley are tight, but I'm not understanding how to check if the pulley is on backwards...

You can eye-ball the pulley to see if it lines up with the power steering pulley. Also, if you look at the pulley, one side sets deeper that the other side. You want the shollow side facing out.

 

[MJBean420]

Are the 4 bolts holding the pulley's to the pump tight?

Check the bolts. Remember to tighten the pulley, you need to put the belt on and tighten it. I forgot to one time and started it. It gave me a similar issue with the pulley and was making a "fluttering" noise. As soon as I tightened it, it was fine. Minor oversite. I can see a garage mechanic flubbing this one up. Surprised they didn't try and sell you on Crankwalk!

 

[95redturboawd]

The bolts are tight and the shallow side is facing out.

 

[Misterbeechy]

yea i have the same problem.. i drove back home but turned it off going down hills and shifted at 2k rpms i was ok for a mile


again shut off car "LEAVING THE KEY IN IGNITION" if you take out the key the steering wheel will lock if you turn right which can lead to death

 

[94-eclipse]

It probally wouldn't hurt to drive but like posted before extra koolant brand belt are helpful I had the same issue. But I drove it till the gauge went off the. Had lime a 15 min drive overheatin