1995 LeSabre Water Pump Seized!!!

Hi Everyone

I Just purchased the car for $100 from my sisters boyfriend. I plan on fixing it up and selling it to make a few dollars if its possable:smokin: The car has 176,000 on it but the cars interior and exterior are in great shape.

Anyways, with the water pump being seized does anyone think that the timing chain would be messed up also? And the altenator belt actually got torn to shreads. I do have a MOTOR service manual for all year timing belts from 1970-present but Buick isnt even listed? Is it because all buicks are timing chains? I do know theres three chains, but if the chain is "broke" Or "jumped timing" would the valves be bent in the motor?? I never worked on a vehicle with a timing chain before!! Just timing belts, what should i expect?!?!

FYI: The motor is a 3.8L V6

Thanks for looking.......
Brian

First off, the 3800 has a timing chain. Second, if the WP siezed and killed the belt, I doubt that it broke the chain...possible, but not likely. The serpentine died instead of the timing chain :) Unless anybody else thinks otherwise?

A new WP is less than $100 and it really isn't too bad of a job. Soo...new WP, new serpentine belt, and any other small maintenance stuff (AC delco plugs, wires, PCV valve, filters, etc.) and you should be able to turn a pretty penny.

First off, the 3800 has a timing chain. Second, if the WP siezed and killed the belt, I doubt that it broke the chain...possible, but not likely. The serpentine died instead of the timing chain :) Unless anybody else thinks otherwise?

A new WP is less than $100 and it really isn't too bad of a job. Soo...new WP, new serpentine belt, and any other small maintenance stuff (AC delco plugs, wires, PCV valve, filters, etc.) and you should be able to turn a pretty penny.

But if the timing chain did break, would anything else be messed up inside the motor? I know on an interface motor with timing belt, it will bend the valves is this the same with a chain?? Im no expert here but im just curious:icon16:

Brian

The valves could bend on this engine if the the chain/gears failed at speed.

Your timing set magnet and camshaft position sensor could also possibly get damaged if your chain gave in

If the chain did break, then there is a good possibility that the motor is now a large paperweight. Like Maxwedge said, the valves could be bent from when the motor went out of time.

If not, then the chain, gear, damper, cam magnet....hmm.... I'm sure theres something else I'm missing. A large, loose piece of spinning metal inside the front cover of the engine has a lot of potential.

But...I still doubt that the chain would have broke when the WP siezed. Try spinning the harmonic balancer and if it either doen't move (broken chain jammed it), or moves really easy (chain is loose elsewhere), then you've got some problems.

I agree, and doubt you have to get into the engine..
It makes sense that it was parked when all the warning lights turned on when the water pump seized.. thats it. The water pump shaft is just a pully driven pump shaft and doesnt connect inside the engine to anything but a pump fan.

Try to turn it over without the belts on it first.. and listen to it run for 10 seconds and listen .. you will know then. . Of course you wont have Alt or water so make it a very short run. If it runs OK for 10 seconds. You have a chance and should replace the water pump ( and Coolant). Then press on with other possible problems.

Wow

You guys are awesome to help me out with this!!! Thanks again!!
Sometime this weekand i should get the car and see what the deal is with it so ill make sure i post up!!

Brian

Here's an update:

I didnt get the car:banghead:

But it was just a water pump and belt, the chain was good and the car fired right up! So thanks for all the help from everyone!!!! I still might get the car but it does have other issues so time will tell!!

Brian