Play in water pump

[djnolan]

I'm finally getting around to taking care of the timing belt and rollers after the 944 s near death experience with the disintegrating idler roller. This car has the spring tensioner and in my opinion it was over tension and the water pump has some play in it. What are the risks of running this water pump for a while and just replacing the belt and rollers on the timing belt?

[mytrplseven]

I recommend replacing it. Not knowing the history on the car, basically it should be replaced every other belt service. While You're In There, right?

[djnolan]

I estimate there are only around 30k miles on this waterpump but it already has shaft play and the tensioner roller is noisy.

[thomasryan]

nothing is fun when either belt goes.

[mytrplseven]

It may have been a lower quality, after market water pump, so premature failure of the bushings was inevitable.

[88Silver924S]

Re: "What are the risks of running this water pump for a while"?

When there is play in that bearing the seals will fail (leak) which will expose the "sealed" bearings to hot coolant which will wash out the lubricant which will cause the bearings to overheat from lack of lubrication and the bearing will seize or break-up, the balls crack and spall off pieces and the races gall; shortly, very shortly thereafter the belt is highly likely to break. With loose bearings the impeller may wobble and strike the engine block or sides of the pump cavity and break, jamming what remains of the impeller causing the roller to seize snapping the timing belt since it is a toothed pulley. If you are lucky the bearings will scream loudly and the stream of coolant out the weep hole will alert you before the whole Macgillicuddy lets loose.

Time to bite the bullet and change the pump.

[dgcantrell]

Yep. If you can feel any noticeable play in the shaft in and out or side to side at all, replace that puppy. No need to chance it.

[djnolan]

Will do thanks guys

[djnolan]

Is there a way to drain or pump the coolant out of he block before popping the old pump off so antifreeze doesn't go everywhere? What brand or source for water pumps is advised these days?

[88Silver924S]

The engine block drain plug is below the #4 exhaust. It is way below and just forward of the engine serial number stamp. It just looks like a lonely bolt that holds nothing on. Don't over-tighten it (stripping the block threads) when putting it back; it doesn't require much torque.

See location photo: https://www.*****************.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/29422.jpg

When changing coolant one should always drain the block to get as much of the old coolant out, not draining the engine block leaves a fair amount of spent coolant in the system. Good luck.

[sausagehacker]

What brand is the failed water pump?

[djnolan]

INA brand is stamped on the shaft, but considering it was over tensioned and the spring tensioner should have been backed off in my opinion.