water pump time to change?

[rdvteg95]

my 95 LS has 94K on it and i was wondering when i should replace the waterpump and what exactly does the waterpump do could this be a reason why my engine temp increases really fast??

[BullShifter]

I would change the water pump & timing belt if it were my car. Water pumps do just what it says, circulates coolant through the engine block driven by the timing belt. A bad water pump could start leaking all over the t/belt, making it weak, and eventually breaking. Usually @ 90K(i think for '95) you should change the t/belt along with the water pump, theres no sense on paying for all that labor twice.

When does the temp. increase quickly? At idle or while driving

[Spectre927]

Originally Posted by jackasssi

I would change the water pump & timing belt if it were my car. Water pumps do just what it says, circulates coolant through the engine block driven by the timing belt. A bad water pump could start leaking all over the t/belt, making it weak, and eventually breaking. Usually @ 90K(i think for '95) you should change the t/belt along with the water pump, theres no sense on paying for all that labor twice.

When does the temp. increase quickly? At idle or while driving

whats that last part about?

Yeah, get the complete timing belt replacement, its about $450, but you need it. My friends mechanic told him 100K, no more, no less, but I did mine at 110. I bought it at 90, so I wasnt sure if it had been done, so if it hadnt, Im one lucky mother fucker. If it had been done, oh well...

[BullShifter]

what last part?

[Spectre927]

When does the temp. increase quickly? At idle or while driving

What does is mean, like if it increases quickly at idle or while driving, whats that mean mechanically, just curious? My temp increases while i drive, if I dont let it idle for like 10 mins, which is normal Im sure.

[rdvteg95]

yeah while im driving at first the temp increases really fast probably about a quarter of from the middle line what does a water pump cost and what will installation end up being. And my timing belt has been changed already so nothing to worry about there

[BullShifter]

The engine should heat up that fast while driving or 10-15mins at idle. I would say replacing the water pump is a big deal if you had the timing belt replaced already. Now your paying for all that labor again, if you would have done at the same time as the t/belt then the price would have increased slightly.

Water pump alone is 3-3.5hrs of labor + parts/coolant/tax.with the timing belt, the water pump would have added only .5-1.0hrs of labor to the job.

[Spectre927]

Or they may have evn just charged you for what the water pump cost, but now its gonna be a lot more.

[rdvteg95]

so do you think i could be loosing power at all

[Spectre927]

I suppose the engine will get hotter, and unnecessary heat is never a good thing, but thats probly the least of your worries...

[BullShifter]

Originally Posted by rdvteg95

so do you think i could be loosing power at all

I don't know, I can't hear or see it. In most cases a bad pump will be noisy(hum) or leak. If its leaking you will see coolant dripping from the t/belt cover. With your mileage & the car being that old - changing the water pump would be priority if it were mine. When the pump goes out, it usually takes the timing belt with it. I don't know if you know what happens when it breaks but, its not good. The pistons usually smack the valves causing bent valves, holes in the pistons, all types of expensive stuff.

I've seen it happen many times

[rdvteg95]

ill probably end up waiting till spring to install a new pump i think it can wait a little longer considering nothing is leaking at all

[BullShifter]

The trick with Honda/Acura's is to replace the water pump/timing belt before its bad - water pumps/timing belts are much cheaper than an engines.

[ManOnTheGo]

It's a good suggestion to have both timing belt and water pump done at the same time.

However, you should always verify the condition of the timing belt and water pump.

You can check the timing belt by carefully prying part of the lower plastic belt cover from the engine on the driver side. Make sure you don't pull it completely off or else you will not be able to put it back on. Use a flashlight and check for rubber debris within the belt housing. If you see black dust-like chunks of rubber, it means your belt is chewed up and you'll need to get it changed.

Regarding hot engines. Hot is relative, so if your temperature gauge is not going beyond the half-way point, it's OK. Anything above half-way can be dangerous for your engine.

Hot engines can be due to many things:

1. Thermosensor cable touching the engine block
2. Leaky gaskets (head gasket for instance) -> low coolant, oil
3. Sticky thermostat (stuck closed causes hot engines, or stuck open causes cold engines)
4. Low engine coolant -> leaking coolant system
5. Leaky or punctured or broken radiator -> low coolant

Before you change the waterpump check the following:

1. Coolant hoses and clamps
2. Squeaking belts due to coolant leaks
3. Residue around the engine block gaskets and radiator
4. Low coolant levels in the overflow tank
5. Leaks around your radiator

If your coolant is low, wipe off any old residue around the engine block, radiator, and coolant hoses. Fill the overflow reservoir to max and run your engine for a while. Check the level and fill it to max if necessary. Check for leaks. If you find none, check again in a week. If you see a significant coolant level drop over a week, check for residue. If you're seeing significant residue beneath the engine block, it's probably the water pump leaking, in which case, get it changed.

[Spectre927]

In regards to checking your timing belt visually, I've heard its whats on the inside that counts. You can typically get a general idea of the condition, but not always. But they say you cant really rely on that.