2000 Grand Am 2.4 Water Pump Replacement

[davlys]

I am getting ready to change the water pump on my Grand Am, which is a 2.4 L, 4 cylinder (Quad 4). I hear that this is a difficult job. I have a Haynes manual, but would like to ask for tips or warnings to help me get through this. Thanks.

[thephantom1492]

the pump is on the timing chain/belt. If it's a belt, replace it at the same time. Don't forget to retime everything as the manual say, else you can damage the engine.

[Tech II]

Unfortunately, I don't know how the Haynes manual describes it.......but I would get a GM manual, and thoroughly read it......can get an earlier year manual, doesn't have to be a Grand Am, other GM cars used that engine....

Because the pump comes with a sprocket, the timing chain has to come off the sprocket.......If the vehicle has a lot of miles on it, and you were getting a noise from the timing cover area, might be prudent to check the chain, check the cam(s) and crank sprockets for wear, also the plastic guides for wear, and I would definitely change the tensioner shoe AND the tensioner......also with the pump off, now would be the time to replace the thermostat.....

the exhaust manifold has to come off......harmonic balancer has to come off......engine mount in front of timing cover has to come off(so you will have to safely jack the engine with a board under the oil pan).....timing cover has to come off......engine has to be rotated to the timed position so the dowels are inserted into the two cams.....note the position of the mark on the crank sprocket and the mating mark.....If for some reason, the chain is removed, note that one link is colored(usually on the outside).....put chain back on the way it came off(i.e., if the colored link was on the outside, put chain back on so link is on the outside...if put on the opposite way, could cause noise due to the way the chain has worn).....

If the chain does not have to come off(because it's not worn and the sprockets are ok), I usually insert a small rubber hose between chain/crank sprocket and lower edge and also between chain/exhaust cam and rear cover.....this keeps the chain on the sprockets tight, so when you remove the tensioner shoe, they won't flop off.....

Then remove hose from tube, and then the whole w/p assembly(make sure you get a gasket kit that has gasket for exhaust and w/p and thermostat) and then thermostat.....take pump apart and replace.....reverse the order.....install the new shoe under the chain....then the tensioner.....with chain around sprocket of w/p, push up on shoe to take slack out of chain......release the tensioner......remove the two rubbers installed to hold chain in place.....then remove the two dowels......rotate the crank, TWICE, to the timed position so that the dowels can be easily inserted into the cams, and double check the timing mark on the crank sprocket, and checking that tensioner is working ok......if in the correct position, then the engine is timed....remove dowels, reuse cover gasket and put timing cover on....

I think labor time on this is around 5 hours for someone who knows what he is doing and has a lift......DIY'er can easily double that time the first time attempting this.....

Like I say, I would get a step by step GM manual......

[Squoushie]

I am doing a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am GT with the quad 4 and I was able to do it without taking off the the exhaust manifold. Every thing I read said it had to be removed but I was able to do the job fairly easily without removing it thus saving saving myself 15 bucks for the exhaust manifold and flange gasket, not to mention the hell of trying to break those exhaust bolts loose.

[Tech II]

I am not sure how it is easier...with that manifold in the way, hard to scrape the gasket off the block for the w/p, and hard to get at stuff under it....

I know there is more room under there with a manual tranny vs an automatic tranny....

[Squoushie]

Tech II Sorry if I referred that it made the job easier it just saved a few bucks and saved me the time and trouble of breaking loose the exhaust bolts and chancing possibly breaking one off in the head because it always seems like at least in my case murphys law rears his ugly head whenever he can

[Tech II]

It's been a long time since I did one, so I didn't know if there was a trick involved...

[Squoushie]

Well after doing the job I was thinking about and I realized if it had an automagic transmission in it I would have had to take out the the exhaust manifold as the transmission would have blocked access from the bottom where a manual transmission does not lol.