92 lesabre coolant gusher

First night below freezing and I get a call from the wife's cell phone telling me the car has no heat as she is driving to work (3rd shift). She drives it to and from work (16 miles total) and on her way home the temp light comes on for the first time ever since owning the car. When it warms up in the afternoon (during football time! :naughty:), I go and check radiator. Bone dry. Grab some water pour it in. Look under vehicle and and there is a river heading towards my feet. Look in radiator and once again bone dry. (couple of choice cuss words ensue)

Drive the car up on some ramps I have and try to find where it is coming from. Upper radiator hose dry, lower radiator hose dry. I have water pouring in a stream coming off the rear corner of the oil pan. Not making sense so it has to be coming from some place up above. Can only see top portion of water pump due to clutter and it is dry. But I have a strong feeling that the bottom of the pump may not be and that is where this is coming from.

How hard for an average person with average tools to change out a water pump on a '92 lesabre? By average tools I mean a socket set (metric and standard), no wrenches, and a couple of vice grips...lol sad I know. Could anyone point out some nice instructions somewhere without having to buy a manual? Times are tough and I cannot afford a $200 mechanic bill for a $40 repair. Barely be able to buy the $35 pump and $5 gasket.

I read on these boards something about a bypass tube behind the alternator which caused an issue on the same model/year vehicle. How can I be certain which is the problem area?
There is so much in and around that area that I cannot see.

Odd how this happens on the very first time temp drops below 32 (or is that the norm? :p).

Autozone repair guide says removing alternator provides better room to work. The guide is ok I guess but I would sure like to hear from someone who has done it.

Any feedback would be most appreciated.

No car = No work. Not making the situation any better. Happened Saturday night.

I would suspect if the coolant is coming out as fast as you say, the baypass hose fitting broke. Very common on older VIN-L engine. Click Here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=5012138#post5012138) for more info. BTW, it is cheaper and much easier to replace than the water pump!

Thank you! Thank you!

I removed the alternator and sure enough the fitting snapped in two flush with the intake. Threads still inside. Had no chisel to use, but a steak knife did the job getting the plastic threads out of the intake :wink:.

$5 dollar part (steel) purchased at O'reilly's Parts store (thanks for the part number in that other thread). They carried Help! brand replacement.

Problem solved.

Until next time..

Thank you very much for the help.

If your 92 is like my 94, you don't have a decal showing the routing on the serpentine belt, If you have a digital camera take a picture, you will be glad you did, That bypass fitting is one of the very few mistakes GM did on that engine, it's the best I ever owned (I am 73 )mine has 246,000 miles and going strong, for the future, if you ever have to replace the water pump you must take off the motor mount on that side, not a bad job but very difficult with your current toolbox>
Good luck and Happy Holidays Rick
PS
you can email me if you need the belt routing.

Thanks for the tip. Actually when I released the belt, I let it sit in place, so all I had to do was hook it over the top of the alternator.

I love this car too. I bought it 2 years ago for $2400 at a used car lot here in the Wichita KS area (I'm in Mulvane, KS). At the time of purchase it had 72,000 miles and it was a 1 owner car (old lady and garaged). I thought it was story to sell me the car, but the dealer was right. My mom who works for Nationwide Insurance ran a check on VIN for me.

The repairs to date are tires, brakes, rotors, fuel pump, wiper blades, and now this fitting.
It's clean and runs like a champ. Has a smooth ride and gets decent gas mileage. I own the Burgundy w/Burgundy interior version.

Am 41 and my name is Rick also... Plan to run this car till either I or the car gives up...lol.

Happy Holidays to you too and all that may read this!