99 3.8 Water Pump

[SRamsey625]

Has anyone changed the w/p on the 99 3.8L. The Haynes says you have to raise the engine to get it off but just looking at it, I don't see why you would have to. Anybody done this with relative ease?

[Mikebox]

I have replaced the pump on my 2000 3.8 (I think the layout is basically the same). I did have to raise the engine as the pump pulley will not come off otherwise due to the frame rail that is right in front of it. In fact, after disconnecting the motor mounts and jacking the engine/trans up as high as I could before the intake plenum met up with the cowl, the pulley still was a tight fit by the rail. Pump replacement is very doable but it is a time consuming cursing sort of job. Took me about 4-5 hours start to finish.

[SRamsey625]

Thanks. Yeah, I got after it and figured out why. I didn't see that some were studs that it is mounted on. I actually just took my cowling off and got it out of the way completely. (Did a tune up a couple of years ago and remembered the cowling is not that difficult to remove) Glad I did too. I was able to get it high enough while only removing the front engine mount. If I had to do it again, I could do it in half the time....