water pump install

[chet1185]

So, I've been doing a lot of searching on this topic and I see mixed answers.

I've seen people say they did it without removing the timing belt and other say you can't. If it's possible to do it without removing the belt that would be awesome because I will not get into the job of the timing belt and whatever else needs done. There is no room and I have never done it before. It is a 1g in a 98 gst. Any suggestions or tips?

thanks in advance.

 

[mercaholik]

You can sneak it in and out without removing the belt I believe it's just tight. And you could use some saran wrap around the belt to protect it from coolant. Possibly even rig up some kind of funnel or catch for any extra coolant after you drain it ( from pet cock) .

 

[bryanwheat]

all i know is if i have to remove the belt and buy special tools, the car can go. i have no experience with these cars and do not wish to keep putting money into it. i like the car, its fun. my woman has always wanted one but we are getting fed up.

You don't really need a special tool, you can do it without it, it just makes it a lot easier. You can also make the tool with a piece of metric 8x1.25 threaded rod with a nut welded on the end.

 

[pauleyman]

Then based on you unwillingness to do this you bought the wrong car.

 

[chet1185]

guess i did then, huh.

 

[chet1185]

my unwillingness is to keep dumping money into something that is not worth it. i have build motors and transmisions, so i dont doubt my mechanical skills.

 

[dakang]

my unwillingness is to keep dumping money into something that is not worth it. i have build motors and transmisions, so i dont doubt my mechanical skills.

Good luck with your choice man. These cars seem to have their problems. But I personally wouldn't let the water pump be the deciding factor in moving on. Just my .02

 

[chet1185]

how hard is it to pull this motor? almost seems easier doing it that way instead

 

[bryanwheat]

how hard is it to pull this motor? almost seems easier doing it that way instead

It is ten times more work to pull the engine. You are over complicating a simple water pump job. Just do it the normal way, remove the mount, belts, crank pulley, water pump pulleys, ac tensioner and timing cover. In the time that we have been discussing this you could of already had it done.

 

[chet1185]

• ok.ill start it today. i cant buy the "special" tools though

 

[Roberti 2G]

Ok so I worked all last night and parts of today on mine. I should have took a picture last night but I really feel that I would not have gotten the pump out with the belt on. I had to remove the hydraulic tensioner and idler tensioner to get to one of the bolts so bye doing this it takes all tension of the belt and its pretty much coming out or off the cams at this point in less you clamp it or zip time it.

In my case I had to do the belt anyway so I removed it. I drained coolant from the oil cooler and still have a lot of coolant spilling out when the pump came off. It got on my balance shaft belt or Timing Belt B. Not worried about it though I just wiped it up as it came out.

 

[Roberti 2G]

Its a tight fit but can be done with the engine in the car if your good around these cars. This is all the area I had to work with since I didn't want to leave my bike outside all night.

 

[chet1185]

how do i do this without those tools?

 

[pauleyman]

Nobody said it was impossible but it takes a little longer with more trouble. At the end the protrusion has to be right.

 

[Roberti 2G]

You can get a threaded rod that fits for the tensioner arm. For the tensioner pully a pair of small 90° needle noses. Your best off just buying the Jays kit.

 

[chet1185]

just got down to the water pump. after removing the pulleys, it seems to spin fine. i can hear it pumping also. so im not changing it. also i will post pics of what i did see.

 

[chet1185]

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[92GVR4SC]

You pretty much have to remove the timing belt to do it the right way. I think you will find in the long run, it will take less time and frustration to take the timing belt off..

 

[pauleyman]

Back to yhe original post you only asked if it was possible. Why did you think it was bad in the first place? Those pictures dont tell us anything other than you need a new harmonic balancer. Did uou even take the covers off?

 

[chet1185]

yes i took the cover off. everything looks new under it.

 

[chet1185]

i thought the bearing in it was bad causing my squealing issue.

 

[Roberti 2G]

Yeah just looks like you need a new harmonic balancer and AC belt. Just search the classifieds for one in good shape. My pump was prob still good to run but since I was doing the belt I just replaced it whole job cost me 58 dollars and some time on my back.