I just found o0ut that my water pump is going out. How do I change it. Don't have money for mechanic.

Car is 95 Lumina

'97 Lumina is a piece of cake. Drain the antifreeze, take the serpentine belt off and it's just a couple of bolts to replace. FYI, go to Autozone and borrow the belt installer tool. It will make installation of the serpentine belt Worlds easier!

You just use a 3/8 ratchet in the belt tensioner....:screwy:

Make sure you loosen the pulley bolts before you take the belt off, that way the belt helps keep the pulley still, then final tighten them after putting the belt back on.

You will need to open the bleeder screw(s) as you refill the coolant, so you don't trap air behind the thermostat.

The pump is very easy to do, no messing with hoses or anything, once you see the new part, it'll make perfect sense. Just make sure the gasket surface on the engine is good and clean, and careful not to gouge the metal (soft aluminum) there...

I'm not sure on the Lumi, but I've seen some GM 3100's that you can't fit a ratchet in there, as there is no clearance between the tensoiner and the frame rail. The tool does make it easier even if there is clearance. The water pump is a total of 9 bolts, 4 on the pulley, and 5 on the pump itself. Like Jeff said, be careful scraping off the old gasket, and make sure you know how to bleed the system to avoid overheating due to trapped air.

and remember to apply some silicone gasket material to that new water pump gasket you get and to make sure you tighten the bolts in the manner you would wheel lug nuts. crossways.

Piece of cake on my '95 3.1, which should be the same as yours. If I can do it, anyone can. Try it, do it, and feel good about it afterwards.

You just use a 3/8 ratchet in the belt tensioner....:screwy:

I actually got my ratchet stuck when replacing the tensioner on my 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan while trying to use it to put the belt back on. Left it in the engine compartment (completely stuck, mind you) until I decided to saw the darn thing off... *embarassed* :crying:

So, I'd say go borrow the tool. :)

Ha Ha, happened to me, I got a racheting wrench stuck on a nut on an intake bolt of an eclipse., since it was non reversable, i had to revers the bolt with some other means untull i could get it out. Moral of the story, buy reversable racheting wrenches.

Also as I learned from a friend that knows about as much as a ASE Master mech... After clearing as much old gasket material as is possible take the new gasket and put it in a bowl of warm water(not hot... warm) for about 30 seconds... helps with the seal.... just My:2cents: oooh forgot... the belt tensioner... I use a long arm(about 2 ft) with a 3/8th head...stick it directly behind the wheel of the tensioner(not the socket) there is a small opening perfect Fit!!! I learned that after breakin a tensioner...LMAO... good luck...


MYX