'96 Sunfire Water Pump

[Jeffrey93]

Does anybody know how much it costs to have these things replaced?
Mine appears to be spewing coolant all over the road (and my driveway!).
The engine overheats and I have to continually refill the coolant.
It seems to be leaking near the water pump but I can't be 100% sure since my view is obstructed.
Can anybody shed some light on this? I'm relatively new to doing my own repairs.

[richtazz]

if it's a 2.2, it's relatively easy, if it's a 2.3/2.4 Quad-4, it's a difficult and troublesome job.

[Robbie1]

2.4L in a 1998 GT cost me 350cdn and saved me a big head-ache

[elp111]

Have them check the coolant collector first. I had a similar problem in my 99 Sunfire GT 2.4 L. One place told me if was the water pump and would cost 900 bucks. I took it somewhere else, he researched the problem and found it to be the coolant collector...a GM band-aid. Cost me 73 bucks instead. And I haven't had a problem since.

[busty]

Mine just cost me $846.10 cdn. I have a 97 2.4 L GT. I'm pissed off at GM for this design. MY car has 103,000km on it. GM says no servicing for 150000 km. I've read in this forum where others have had water pump problems with their Sunfires too. Now my car sounds like a diesel.The mechanic says the noise will go away in time. Probably an air lock in the oil that readjusts the timing belt tensioner. I hope he's right. Any others have this problem?l

[adizm_55]

Mine sounds like a deisel, too. It's overheating and loosing coolant bad.

[hotbug1776]

the problem with the water pumps is the 2.4L, not the 2.3L. I don't have to remove my timing chain to change my water pump since the sprocket stays in the timing chain housing, and I can do it easily from under the car.

The 2.4L, however, is a pain in the arse, especially the automatic transmission. You have to remove the timing chain, since the sprocket comes with the water pump, and the chain is tensioned from inside the timing chain housing. This also means you need to replace the timing chain housing gasket. You probably should, since you are in there, change the timing chain assembly so you don't have to for a long time. To remove the timing chain housing cover, you need to remove the upper and lower engine mounts, and try to fit your arm between the engine and the frame while removing the 20 or so bolts that hold it on.

So, when it comes to ease of working on a motor...the 2.3L wins in this instance. Join me later when someone asks about balance shafts, the 2.4L oiling system, or why the 2.4L spins the #3 bearings.


oh, and have the work done, I just tore the motor out of a 98 ATX 2.4L and I will never even attempt to own another car with a 2.4LTC in it again. My 2.3LHO is by far a superior motor. And it will soon be a 2.6L M90 supercharged Quad4.

[grandma]

Originally Posted by hotbug1776

So, when it comes to ease of working on a motor...the 2.3L wins in this instance. Join me later when someone asks about balance shafts, the 2.4L oiling system, or why the 2.4L spins the #3 bearings.


oh, and have the work done, I just tore the motor out of a 98 ATX 2.4L and I will never even attempt to own another car with a 2.4LTC in it again. My 2.3LHO is by far a superior motor. And it will soon be a 2.6L M90 supercharged Quad4.

500hp beastie?

[Jeffrey93]

FYI.....the water pump was cracked (or something like that, this was a while ago), got a used one for like $150....and had it installed for another $150.

[lar1967]

I have a 96 2.2L that sounds like a diesel. You might be right with the timing belt issue. A couple of years ago, I had the timing belt replaced and it was quiet for a period of time, but now is noisy again.