Water pump thinking!

[bklyn]

Wife's 2002 Boxster just hit 62K runs like a top but know water pump failure is over due. Getting the itch to pull out and replace it before she gets stuck, I have the Bentley Manual looks pretty easy. What do you think? trying to wait for Waynes book.

[cvhs18472]

I just had the same thought. My 98 hit 65K and I thought that with all the hoopla about water pumps I should change mine. I broke a stud, ripped at least 15oz of flesh from my bones and finally got it out. Absolutly nothing wrong with the vanes. No sign of any degradition, looks like a new pump. I had no overheating problems I just thought that it was something to do. In retrospec I should have waited till it started weeping before I changed it. You really do have time if you watch. All the stuff about where does the plastic go is usually naught because it usually disintegrates in very small pieces from friction from the antifreeze. JMHO

Ed

[bklyn]

Ed, when you replaced the pump did you use any permatex or gasket cement on the gasket the Bentley doesnt advise.

[jcb986]

Why spend $350 for a part that may never fail. Ran across a guy who decided to replace his because his car had over 60K on it. Busted his hands took him nearly all day and the pump was just like new.

[bklyn]

jcb, point well taken but being she is the sole user I tell her all the time to be aware of the temp and gauges. I think you know what I mean!

[Jamikest]

The gasket is a coated steel gasket. No doctoring required or recommended.

Water pumps are truly hit or miss- one may last 100k, one may last 10k.
A new pump may fail before the one currently in the car.
Usually they give you plenty of warning by the weep hole. Inspect inspect inspect.
Sometimes you get even more warning by the bearings growling.
Rarely they fail w/o any warning.
I would rate a water pump 4/10 in difficulty. Without a lift to get under the car, may want to revise that to 6/10.

[bklyn]

Thanks for the information. Ill keep you posted.

[turboflyer]

OK I will take a stab at it. Since our coolants are silicate free wear on the impeller should not be an issue. If the shaft seal begins to wear it should start dripping or maybe squeaking and you will most likely smell some coolant. Yes it could just seize up and the belt flip off, or the impeller shear from the shaft, but what are the chances. Unless you have some real mean time between failure data I would leave it alone. At least this one is a proven item. Right out of the box is the highest failure probability there is until you reach some mid time service life. And we do not know what that is. At least I do not know it. You can bet Porsche knows it, but we will never ever see those data sheets. I had a friend who had a car with a water pump that began to squeak. He purchased a new one and put it in the trunk, just in case. He sold the car with 350,000 miles with the new pump in the trunk.
I think that is called a scare tactic.

[Wayne 962]

It's a fairly easy task from under the car. If you've done it before, you can probably do it in about an hour or two. Double that if you haven't done it before. I have an article coming very soon on this, email me at wayne@pelicanparts.com for an advance version if you'd like...

-Wayne

[Jamikest]

A new pump may fail before the one currently in the car.

At least this one is a proven item. Right out of the box is the highest failure probability there is until you reach some mid time service life. And we do not know what that is.

turboflyer is reiterating what I have said. Water pumps 99% of the time give you warning- you must simply know what the warnings are and inspect the car. A new pump is just as likely to fail as an old pump. I have replaced a pump on a vehicle at 700 miles, and I have replaced them at 100,000+++ miles. They are just as likely to go now as they will be later.

Seals fail, then coolant leaks. Leaking coolant ruins bearings and then you have growling or total failure. But 99.9% of the time- it all started with that leaking coolant. inspect, inspect, inspect.

Impellers do not errode on our cars. If you pull a pump and the impellers are damaged- the bearing is shot and allowed the pump to walk and the impeller to contact the block/housing. And what causes bearings to fail? Leaking coolant. inspect, inspect, inspect

So then, what do I mean by inspect? Every service- or every 6 months or so- just shine a flash light at the lowest point of the pump- see coolant dripping? replace it.


OT-
turboflyer- how do you like the Sergeants seat on your BCR? Looking to replace mine with a Mayer or Sergeant.

[s_wilwerding]

As info, I have a water pump that I bought but will not be using. Email if interested - steve.wilwerding at gmail.com.

[aram624]

This project will create a DIY solar hot water heater for less than five dollars (if you have access to a garbage dump). It will allow you to see the principles of solar water heating in action, and is highly customizable.

Its a great way to learn about using the renewable energy of the sun to produce useful effects, in this case hot water. You can use these instructions to build a device that will actually heat enough water to use in the home, but it would require modifications.

This device is more useful for camping or as a science experiment and teaching tool. A word of caution it is possible to create very hot water with this technique and you should be careful not to burn yourself. You can find this and more great DIY projects relating to renewable energy, solar cooking, and sustainable design at The Sietch

By using the sun instead of fossil fuels to heat your water you will be preventing dangerous greenhouse gasses from being released into the atmosphere, helping to prevent global warming.
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SEO UK

[turboflyer]

The Sergeant seat is much much better in comfort and looks than the stock seat. I have no reference for the other seats. That said my stock 999S seat feels better than the aftermarket. Most likely ergonomics involved here. So you must be tired of sliding into the tank and you passenger sliding in to you. I just do not know how they did such a great job on the bike and brain farted the seat design.