water pump problem??? please help!!

Jweible · #1 07-08-2005, 05:37 AM

Ok so I have a 94 Grand am SOHC, Quad 4 2.3L. My coolant system, I have had just about everything replaced in that damn thing. For instance, my thermostat, my thermo. housing. A few leaky hoses, the radiator, The pressure cap for the overflow tank. Major things. But anyways my car is overheating like mad. I belive since im not leaking that it is a possible flow problem caused by the water pump not circulating. But I have no idea where it is located at or how to tell if it is operating correctly or not. Any ideas or opinions would be great. Thank you.

catback23 · #2 07-08-2005, 07:27 AM

Are you sure you don't have air in the system? Usually when the water pump goes it'll leak through the weep hole. The water pump is located on the front side (belt side) of the engine, on the side of the timing chain housing facing the transmission, right underneath the exhaust manifold. It's part of the elbow thing that mates with the timing chain housing and engine block (or maybe head--I don't remember). They are a bitch to get to on these cars and really it's alot easier to rule everything else out first. If I were you I'd make sure the air is out of the system and if it is get under the car and take a look at the water pump weep hole to see if it's leaking any.

GTP Dad · #3 07-08-2005, 10:54 AM

I have to agree with catback23. This sounds like air in the system to me. Once you get the air out it should cool normally.

Jweible · #4 07-08-2005, 02:10 PM

how do you get air out of the system?

GTP Dad · #5 07-08-2005, 04:41 PM

Remove the radiator cap and start the car. Allow the engine to heat up until the thermostat drops. This should allow the pump to circulate the coolant and once the air gets to the cap you will see a fluid level drop. Refill with coolant and the problem should go away.

Jweible · #6 07-08-2005, 10:05 PM

Where is the radiator cap located on a 94 grand am? All I've got is a damn pressure cap for my overflow tank.

GTP Dad · #7 07-09-2005, 02:38 PM

Sorry man! If you only have a pressure cap on the overflow you will need to remove the pipe plug on top of the thermostat housing to get the air to come out of the system. Loosen it and allow the car to heat up. You will get a small flow of coolant when the thermostat opens but if there is any air in the system it will remove it.

doobiess · #8 07-09-2005, 03:34 PM

there is a bleeder valve located on top of the water pump makes it alot easier...

catback23 · #9 07-09-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doobiess

there is a bleeder valve located on top of the water pump makes it alot easier...

On the Quad 4 2.3L SOHC? If there really was a bleeder there it would be useless, the exhaust manifold is right above the pump.

skibum1111 · #10 07-09-2005, 04:48 PM

the easiest way to bleed a quad motor is to let it idle with the pressure cap on the overflow tank off, it will take around 20 minutes or so, let it run long enough for the thermostat to open and close several times. I let mine run until the fan turns on, usually about 20-25 minutes on a warm (75 degree) day. If you pull the plug on the thermostat housing all you are going to get is alot of coolant spilled on the ground as the thermostat is on the bottom of the motor.

Jweible · #11 07-09-2005, 06:42 PM

OK, so i just let it run for like 30 mins with the pressure cap on the overflow tank off. So now if I take it around for a test drive it should be fine??

skibum1111 · #12 07-09-2005, 10:22 PM

Watch your coolant level when you are doing it, and make sure the car is level. It's not unusual for the coolant level to drop when it passes large amounts of air out of the tank. Once that is done, if the problem was caused by air in the system, it should be fixed.

Jweible · #13 07-09-2005, 10:27 PM

It didnt work. It still overheats just the same. Now get this, yesterday I was driving somewhere earlier in the day in a warmer temperature and it didnt overheat at all. It started to but then it dropped back to normal. Now, on my way back (driving the same exact distance and less stoppping and going) later in the day when it was a cooler temperature outside it overheated. Whats up with that?

skibum1111 · #14 07-10-2005, 08:19 AM

Ok here's something to try... The quad motors have probably the crappiest cooling system design out there. Disconnect your heater hoses from the motor and attach the hose that came from the water outlet to a garden hose, see if water flows through smoothly. Coolant goes from the water outlet through the heater core and then across the thermostat. If the heater core clogs up the thermostat does not open, causing the car to overheat.

mrfixit72 · #15 07-11-2005, 09:44 AM

I had a simular problem with my mother-in-laws car. I looked in the haynes book to see where the water pump was and it is located in the middle of the timing chain. In order to change the water pump you have to partically pull the motor out and then disconnect the timng chain housing.
So I took it to a mechanic and they agreed with me. It will cost some money to change we water pump.

Just keep in mind. The car has alumium heads, and they will crack easy. That car has to stay cool at all times. The engine has to be kept cool at all times!!!!
This is from a mechanic I know and trust very much!!!

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