GTR SIGH!!!!! Water Pump blew up while driving

[judasentinel]

The belt that moves the alternator, water pump (and hence, the clutch fan) broke off, possibly as a result of the water pump seizing up or breaking. What that did was that it snapped, got wrapped around the clutch fan, the crank pulley, and the pulley that sticks out of the water pump and connects to the clutch fan broke off from the water pump. I mean literally, the metal TORE apart. The fan didn't seem to have gone THROUGH the rad, but it did bend quite a few fins. I am not sure though as to where the coolant all got sprayed out from. Could it be that it leaked through the hole that was left behind the water pump pulley? If I rub my finger around the hole of the water pump (wait, that didn't come out right, did it, hehe), it is quite rough, as if a metal piece was torn apart. So the key question is where the coolant leaked from. The rad hoses seem fine. I will fill the rad up with water and see if it leaks.

Now to the water pump. I am not sure if I have all the tools for the job. I guess I will need a crank pulley puller, which I have heard is a BIATCH to get off due to the silly grommet sticking out on one side, and then aligning the cylinder no. 1 to TDC in order to properly install timing belt.

BTW, I cut the torn belt with a box cutter and it freed up the stuck clutch fan and the crank pulley. Then I sheepishly removed the fan and started the car. It fired right up!!! No noises, no grinding, no weirdness. The engine just ran normal. But since there is no alternator, I shut it off. PHEW!!!! I think the motor might be fine, but dont know if the head gasket is blown or not. No way of knowing without either opening the head up or doing all the work and then seeing if there is oil-coolant mixing wither in the rad or in the oil pan.

First things first, I am now in the market for a replacement water pump.....need something reliable and economically priced. Anyone got one for sale?

Next up, if the timing belt is fine, I might just put it back on.

To dark_sky, can you please pm your number to me?

[gtstevan]

once your rad is out your crank pulley will come off no problem

[gtstevan]

but you will need a puller

[Sharkus29]

I would recommend that you change your timing belt and idler and tensioner pulleys while you do this.

[cortexx]

If you have taken your timing belt off replace it along with the idler pulley replacable parts . It's false economy NOT to do this while you have it all apart . Kevlar timing belts can break within a short space of time if retensioned and re-used. Daryl at RD keeps them in stock , they are cheap go grab one.

Your actually lucky the failing assemblies didnt damage the cambelt in anyway - this is the ideal argument for always using the cam belt covers instead of showing off the fancy cam wheels some of us use .

[Daryl @ RightDrive]

I'd change the timing belt, tensioner and idler along with the water pump. It's cheap enough that if you didn't do it, and something fell apart again causing internal engine damage, you will be kicking yourself.

[Daryl @ RightDrive]

Why are you wanting to take the crank pulley off? Is it the only way to get the old belts off?

[judasentinel]

Daryl, I always thought that you have to take the crank pulley off in order to do the timing belt change.

BTW, I need pricing on a water pump, along with timing belt, idler and tensioner. Can you pls help, Daryl? I can swing by RightDrive and pick up the items soon if you have them in stock.

[danwit]

Daryl, I always thought that you have to take the crank pulley off in order to do the timing belt change.

BTW, I need pricing on a water pump, along with timing belt, idler and tensioner. Can you pls help, Daryl? I can swing by RightDrive and pick up the items soon if you have them in stock.

I have a used water pump off a s2 rb25 which is the same as rb26 im pretty sure. Its yours for free if ya want to pick it up.

[gtstevan]

and yes crank pulley needs to come off to get the timing belt off