I recently replaced the water pump on my 78. It has a 2.3l motor, just for future reference and those that don't already know.
A couple days ago I noticed a whirring sound when the motor is cold. Once it hits normal running temperature and holds at 160, the sound is gone.
I find it odd that I just replaced the pump and it could have gone out, but it's the most suspicious item at the moment. I notice what appears to be antifreeze deposits on the exhaust manifold and heat shield, it looks like someone got sloppy with white spray paint. I have noticed a bit of antifreeze on the heater core return pipe where the hose clamp is, and my coolant level has dropped a little bit since I last checked it a month or so ago.
So, is it the pump, or am I overlooking something?
Water pump usually leaks out the weep hole at the bottom of the pump. The air from the fan could be blowing the antifreeze around but i dont really think so.
Could it be a bad bearing in the pump? The only other thing I can think of is the alternator or timing belt tensioner. Tomorrow I could pull the belt from the alternator and see if the sound is still there, but the tensioner is going to be a lot of work.
Was it a remanufactured water pump? I won't buy remanufactured if I can help it. They have a high-fail rate with me. >:(
It could very well be the bearing. I had a few water pumps do that on my wifes Explorer. At first it would make noise only when it was cold out. Then it made noise all the time. I changed it out under warrenty when it got so annoying and the next winter the new one did it again. This latest one has been quiet for 3 years now. These were new Napa pumps, not rebuilds. They must have had a bad batch of bearings.....
Ive never had a water pump bearing make noise, ive had and seen alot of alternators do it tho. I would suspect the alternator before the water pump personally but that doesnt explain the missing coolant and the coolant you found. However a bad bearing wouldnt make it leak coolant unless the drive shaft to the pump is out of place where the seal cant seal it up. I tend to think that you have two issues. A coolant leak at a heater hose perhaps, and an alternator bearing out.
It is a new (NOT re-manufactured) Master Pro water pump that I purchased at O'Reilly Autoparts (formerly Shucks, or Kragen in other parts of the country). It has a lifetime warranty, I think it may come in handy!
I will try more troubleshooting with the alternator tomorrow afternoon while it's not 15 degrees outside! lol
Aww come on I just got inside from changing motor mounts in my truck at 14 degrees! lol. I cheated this time tho I have a 35k btu reddy heater that i was using ( its a POS one tho that doesn't work right)
My dad has one of those nice propane tank heater attachments for when we work in the garage. What blows is I live seven miles from the house and in an apartment complex without a carport. :(
So I tried running the car without the accessories, then put the belts on one at a time, starting the car between each one.
It's the smog pump...again! I honestly don't mind having the smog pump on the car, some people say it's just added weight.
Should I remove it entirely with all the tubes and stuff that lead to the manifold and plug it up, or spend the $52.00 to buy another one? Really, how much good does it do vs. the bad?
None of my pintos have ever had the air pump on them by the time I got ahold of them. I think id just eliminate it.
pintoguy was right, two separate issues.
Today I was driving the car to Boise so my wife and I could drop off the Saturn to get it's windshield replaced. Half way there I noticed white smoke coming out from under the hood and rolling up from under the car. I know it was something to do with coolant so I pulled into the walmart parking lot and lifted the hood to a big cloud of white smoke!
One of the heater core hoses that run back to the pump, is parallel to the exhaust manifold. Where the rubber heater hose connects to the metal tube, the hose clamp broke and coolant was dripping at a pretty decent rate to puddle up on the exhaust manifold, drip down off the oil pan, and find other trails down to the exhaust pipe, while burning off all the same time.
A bit embarrassing to sit at the light white bellows of white smoke emerge from the car, while sitting there the whole time as if everything is fine. I closely monitored the engine temperature and drove it to the O'Reilly's in Boise (just down the road from Speedy glass where the Saturn was being worked on). I purchased some extra hose to change out some time this summer when I flush the coolant system, a bottle of their brand of 50/50 antifreeze, a roll of paper towels and some hose clamps.
All I did was remove the old hose clamp and put a new one on. Tightened it up and started the car....No more leak! :D
Now for the damage report....Antifreeze dripped all over the manifold, into the heat shield, causing coolant steam to find its way into the air duct and air cleaner. A lot of steam actually, which explains the slight smell of antifreeze from the tailpipe last week, and the white deposits on the manifold I posted about earlier.
I need to get under the car some time and clean off the cross member, oil pan, starter, front exhaust system, valve cover, plug wires smog pump and valves....A giant mess.... :(
A bad clamp causes big trouble...
While on the subject, use only stainless steel ones. Do not trust what is written on the package, especially if they are cheap.
Try picking them up by the slotted 'ribbon' (part that goes around the hose) with a magnet. If it sticks, it is plated steel or very low grade SS and can rust easily and fail.
True stainless clamps cannot be picked up this way. I think the "Ideal" brand is a good one. The harbor freight ones are junk.