99 VR6 Water pump Going?

[reddvr6]

I'm trying to narrow down on my problem. Exactly what kind of noise does a water pump make when it's on it's way out? Also, are there any other clues that I should look for in regards to this??

Thanks

[boschmann]

It's uncommon for a watrer pump to make noise, at least in the bearings. If the impeller has broken it can make a moise, but the car would be overheating.

[veedubmechanic]

If anything it makes a whining noise or whirring noise.

[reddvr6]

Hey thanks for the reply. I did notice, one day, my cooling fans came on after a 15 minute ride and it was in the 20's.
Also, my front defoggers aren't working. It's blowing hot air, it's just not clearing the windshield. Would this be related??

[boschmann]

Cooling fans can come on any time, cold weather won't stop them. Try to see if the A/C compressor clicks on when you turn on the defrost or A/C. Is the check engine light on?

[reddvr6]

Originally Posted by reddvr6

Hey thanks for the reply. I did notice, one day, my cooling fans came on after a 15 minute ride and it was in the 20's.
Also, my front defoggers aren't working. It's blowing hot air, it's just not clearing the windshield. Would this be related??

Thanks again for returning a reply.

Unfortunately, my a/c stopped working last year. One mechanic said it was electrical (?). This is the least of my worries. Anyway, nothing comes on.
When I turn my knob from defogger to the dash vent, smoke comes out. This only happened two out of numerous tries. Meanwhile, there's still a noise that's coming from the belt side of the engine. (I had my serpentine belt replaced last year). I might bring it to the VW dealership and ask them their opnion while I have my oil changed. ?

[reddvr6]

Originally Posted by reddvr6

Hey thanks for the reply. I did notice, one day, my cooling fans came on after a 15 minute ride and it was in the 20's.
Also, my front defoggers aren't working. It's blowing hot air, it's just not clearing the windshield. Would this be related??

p.s. My engine light isn't on. I hope this doesn't take me a long time to figure out. It seems I should take care of this sometime this week. It's the only transportation I have.

[boschmann]

Do you get a sweetish smell with this fog? It's not uncommon to have a heater core leak. Is your coolant level going down?

[reddvr6]

Thanks for replying. It seems like you're the only one.

Yes, coolant has gone down. I had a warning light about it a month or two ago and had to completely fill it. This happened to me last year, also. As far as the sweet smell goes, it almost smells like sweet logs burning, if that makes any sense to you. But the noise is coming from the side where the tensioner belt is not the firewall. ?

[boschmann]

The idler pulley for the serpentine belt will commonly go bad & make noise. Eithe way a bad water pump bearing won't necessarily cause the pump to leak. Have you ever seen coolant dripping there? A leaking heater core won't make any noise, just smell, fog and wetness inside the car.

[veedubmechanic]

If hot coolant is leaking fro mthe heater core and the fan is blowing it into the car, then that would happen. Water pump o-rings leak too.

[reddvr6]

I haven't seen any coolant dripping anywhere. I'll check again. It makes sense about the heater core leaking. I am getting a maple syrup smell, fog coming thru the console vents and that wetness that seems not to clear like the mirror fog from taking a hot shower. Also, about the idler pulley, when I first heard that noise it sounded like a belt noise. Like I said I had just replaced it and didn't think it would be going. My defoggers worked better yesterday??
I can probably fix the heater core myself, but I'm not sure of the idler pulley. I guess if I can to take the belt off, then I should continue and fix or check the others.