98 chevy malibu

[Jon_uscg270]

My car has been overheating i took it to the dealership they said that it was the water pump and that they would have to drop the engine!! i was just wondering if it was necessary because the part is only like 30 bucks and they were going to charge me like 1500 bucks to fix it is there a way to not to drop the engine and put it in myself? I'm just trying to save money ya know? i go in and out to sea i just don't have time or the money for a mechanic!!! thanks, Jon Castor United States Coast Guard

[sswpriz]

$1500 to change a water pump on a malibu ???? Some dealer saw you comin !!! I just had mine done at my mechanic for under 2 bills !!!

[slls]

If it is a 2.4 the usual dealer charge is about $800, but I know they don't pull the engine. Independent about $400, need a good shop though, cams have to be set right or bent valves.

[bcopeland]

Try Pep Boys - $500

[johnschmitt]

The pump on the 2.4 is driven by the timing chain... so the crank pulley, timing chain cover, and the tensioner (along with a bunch of other crap that happens to be in the way) are removed to free the pump from the chain. This does require supporting the motor and removing the front engine mount, but not the outright removal of the engine. If I read the haynes correctly, you don't have to reset the valve timing when you're done since you only removed the tensioner and left the chain on all the sprockets. That would definately take me half a saturday and sounds like 4-5 bills like folks have said.

If it's the 3.1 then you're getting completely f****** hosed. Release the tension on the drive belt and pull the belt off of something to give you slack. Hold the pulley in place with a screwdriver as you loosen the bolts holding the pulley to the hub, remove 5 bolts around the pump, clean up, put it all back together.