water pump removal help

[Firebirdedgar]

so i searched and found some info.....but can y'all give me a semi detailed instructions for the R&R of my 2001 bird's water pump.....thanks in advance...also what tools did you use and do i have to rent a pulley puller?

[vr4gasm]

Re: water pump removal help

no puller needed the pulley mounts with 4 bolts its is very easy to remove just remove the bolts on the face of the pump and pry it off make sure to use a new gasket and a little blue rtv never hurt.. i am not 100% if you have to pull anything off to get to it.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: water pump removal help

Our water pumps on the 3.8 are super easy. It took me like 30 min to do mine. You do not have to take off the intake or any accessories. Here is the procedure:

1. Get a new water pump. I usually go to Oreilly's or NAPA, because AutoZone brand parts seem poor quality. I only buy brand name stuff at AutoZone/Advanced because it's cheaper, ie; wipers, lights, fluids, spark plugs, etc. Brand name stuff is the same no matter where you go.

2. You absolutely MUST get a tube of RTV gasket maker. If you don't know what to get tell the clerk you need rtv for your water pump.

3. Find a reasonable socket set. I have a 20 piece i keep in the hatch. It can pretty much take apart our whole car. I believe for this job you will need three different sockets. An extension may be useful and most kits have one. Get a gasket scraper knife. A small crowbar may be useful to pry the pump from the sealed gasket.

4. Get to work. Drain coolant. With the accessory belt on loosen up the four bolts on the water pump pulley wheel.

5. Take the belt off via the tensioner.

6. Unscrew the bolts on the water pump pulley wheel and pull the wheel off by hand. Save it and the bolts as the new pump does not include these parts.

7. All the bolts on the pump are easily accessible now. Loosen bolts all around and remove them. Extension may be useful here.

8. With the bolts removed use a small crowbar or your hands to pry the pump off the gasket.

9. Scrape ALL traces of the gasket off using the gasket scraper tool. Try not to get any gasket into the coolant ports.

10. Put a stripe of rtv all around the back of the new pump. Make sure you go around all bolt holes. Do not use too much rtv. You dont want it to squeeze out when you tighten the bolts.

11. Apply gasket to new pump evenly. Make sure all bolt holes match gasket.

12. Apply rtv to back of gasket same way.

13. Stick pump in place of the removed one carefully so the gasket does not shift.

14. Bolt back down. Torque specs are found in any Chilton type book. * I can post specs when I'm home *

15. Thread on pulley wheel bolts by hand till tight.

16. Replace belt. Torque pulley bolts.

17. Fill up with coolant. Check for obvious leaks, parts, sockets laying around that may be in the way.

18. Start her up and run the heater to spread the coolant around. Watch the temperature and make sure the pump is working by feeling the return hose to the radiator. Once the t-valve engages it should start pumping hot water back into the radiator.

19. Let it run for 10 minutes.

20. Let it cool down. Pop the radiator cap and add some more coolant. Make sure the reservoir is topped off as well.

21. Repeat 20 & 21 until you no longer have to add any coolant. Keep checking for leaks and keep watching the temperature.

If you have questions let me know.

[Atreus21]

Re: water pump removal help

Our water pumps on the 3.8 are super easy. It took me like 30 min to do mine. You do not have to take off the intake or any accessories. Here is the procedure:

1. Get a new water pump. I usually go to Oreilly's or NAPA, because AutoZone brand parts seem poor quality. I only buy brand name stuff at AutoZone/Advanced because it's cheaper, ie; wipers, lights, fluids, spark plugs, etc. Brand name stuff is the same no matter where you go.

2. You absolutely MUST get a tube of RTV gasket maker. If you don't know what to get tell the clerk you need rtv for your water pump.

3. Find a reasonable socket set. I have a 20 piece i keep in the hatch. It can pretty much take apart our whole car. I believe for this job you will need three different sockets. An extension may be useful and most kits have one. Get a gasket scraper knife. A small crowbar may be useful to pry the pump from the sealed gasket.

4. Get to work. Drain coolant. With the accessory belt on loosen up the four bolts on the water pump pulley wheel.

5. Take the belt off via the tensioner.

6. Unscrew the bolts on the water pump pulley wheel and pull the wheel off by hand. Save it and the bolts as the new pump does not include these parts.

7. All the bolts on the pump are easily accessible now. Loosen bolts all around and remove them. Extension may be useful here.

8. With the bolts removed use a small crowbar or your hands to pry the pump off the gasket.

9. Scrape ALL traces of the gasket off using the gasket scraper tool. Try not to get any gasket into the coolant ports.

10. Put a stripe of rtv all around the back of the new pump. Make sure you go around all bolt holes. Do not use too much rtv. You dont want it to squeeze out when you tighten the bolts.

11. Apply gasket to new pump evenly. Make sure all bolt holes match gasket.

12. Apply rtv to back of gasket same way.

13. Stick pump in place of the removed one carefully so the gasket does not shift.

14. Bolt back down. Torque specs are found in any Chilton type book. * I can post specs when I'm home *

15. Thread on pulley wheel bolts by hand till tight.

16. Replace belt. Torque pulley bolts.

17. Fill up with coolant. Check for obvious leaks, parts, sockets laying around that may be in the way.

18. Start her up and run the heater to spread the coolant around. Watch the temperature and make sure the pump is working by feeling the return hose to the radiator. Once the t-valve engages it should start pumping hot water back into the radiator.

19. Let it run for 10 minutes.

20. Let it cool down. Pop the radiator cap and add some more coolant. Make sure the reservoir is topped off as well.

21. Repeat 20 & 21 until you no longer have to add any coolant. Keep checking for leaks and keep watching the temperature.

If you have questions let me know.

What's wrong with using the pre-formed gasket?

[cam98aro]

Re: water pump removal help

What's wrong with using the pre-formed gasket?

i really have no idea, i have replaced water pumps before and i never had to do that, the stock gasket worked perfectly

i would NOT take the gasket off and use RTV, but that is just my opinion

[OneEightSeven]

Re: water pump removal help

You use RTV with the gasket to seal it and on both sides of the gasket.