New here, great site.
Last Saturday, my wife came home and saying there's coolant dripping from our 98 (3.4L) out of the blue. I checked and it was on the driver side, right around the alternator bracket that mounts to the block. I figured it had to be the water pump, but it's odd that it's not dripping from the center.
Anyway I open the top of TB cover, and surprised the belt looked almost new and nothing was wet there. Only after I dismantled everything that I can see it's the water pump leaking (wet weep hole, and gasket seems to be gone too).
I was planning to do the change, but didn't think it would force my hands. How can a belt look new and pump is gone? Truck has 200k miles (got it 50k ago with unknown history - single previous owner though), but I was hoping for a bit more time.
I guess water pump life is a hit or miss. Due to the timing, I got WP (GMB) from Advance auto, hopefully it'll last.
The old water pump has few markings (not OEM). I'll see if I can upload a pic so someone might be able to id it.
Couple of things learned if you're doing it on your own:
1) Get that special tool that compresses the hydraulic tensioner in place, or you have to remove PS pump, AC compressor and everything else to remove the tensioner. Took a while since I don't have that tool.
2) Need a puller to remove the crank pulley. Two holes in there, but none of my bolts can catch it. Eventually got a loaner tool for that (6 inch or bigger puller).
Other than that, I got it done with basic set of sockets/adapters without any power tools.
Last Saturday, my wife came home and saying there's coolant dripping from our 98 (3.4L) out of the blue. I checked and it was on the driver side, right around the alternator bracket that mounts to the block. I figured it had to be the water pump, but it's odd that it's not dripping from the center.
Anyway I open the top of TB cover, and surprised the belt looked almost new and nothing was wet there. Only after I dismantled everything that I can see it's the water pump leaking (wet weep hole, and gasket seems to be gone too).
I was planning to do the change, but didn't think it would force my hands. How can a belt look new and pump is gone? Truck has 200k miles (got it 50k ago with unknown history - single previous owner though), but I was hoping for a bit more time.
I guess water pump life is a hit or miss. Due to the timing, I got WP (GMB) from Advance auto, hopefully it'll last.
The old water pump has few markings (not OEM). I'll see if I can upload a pic so someone might be able to id it.
Couple of things learned if you're doing it on your own:
1) Get that special tool that compresses the hydraulic tensioner in place, or you have to remove PS pump, AC compressor and everything else to remove the tensioner. Took a while since I don't have that tool.
2) Need a puller to remove the crank pulley. Two holes in there, but none of my bolts can catch it. Eventually got a loaner tool for that (6 inch or bigger puller).
Other than that, I got it done with basic set of sockets/adapters without any power tools.
