Need help asap

[craigslist4059]

Need help soon, Just purchased 98 malibu 2.4 that needed a water pump done.

Had a guy come change out water pump and i refilled and it leaked everywhere. Started looking into it its leaking from the pump to thermostat housing side, not the pump to timing cover. Had another guy come out to try to fix it cause original guy screwed up the gasket had it hanging out the side and ripped in half. Replaced all gaskets and took that housing off 3 separate times and reinstalled, torqued numerous times to try to stop it. Even tried putting sealant on the outside of it and still nothing. started as a slow drip now its getting worse, seems to be leaking on top side of that housing and traveling down the pump and drips off, i believe it to be up near where the one gasket was that bolts to the block but i honestly dont get why it keeps leaking like it does. Any help is appricated thanks

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by craigslist4059

Need help soon, Just purchased 98 malibu 2.4 that needed a water pump done.

Had a guy come change out water pump and i refilled and it leaked everywhere. Started looking into it its leaking from the pump to thermostat housing side, not the pump to timing cover. Had another guy come out to try to fix it cause original guy screwed up the gasket had it hanging out the side and ripped in half. Replaced all gaskets and took that housing off 3 separate times and reinstalled, torqued numerous times to try to stop it. Even tried putting sealant on the outside of it and still nothing. started as a slow drip now its getting worse, seems to be leaking on top side of that housing and traveling down the pump and drips off, i believe it to be up near where the one gasket was that bolts to the block but i honestly dont get why it keeps leaking like it does. Any help is appricated thanks

I am not really familiar with the 2.4 in your Malibu but if all the old gasket material is not removed from the mating surfaces you will have a leak.

It sounds like it must be removed again, when it is off, carefully check to see that the block is totally clean of old gasket material before reinstalling.
Try using a scraper or a single edge razor blade to do this.

Sealant on the outside will do nothing.

[billw129]

Hello. I signed up on this forum just to answer this question. Ok here goes. That motor is a nightmare. First off you need to take the bolts out of the housing from the top as I am sure you have done a time or 2. Take the housing down and clean the pump side of it very well. Use a razor blade and scrape it. Then go to your local auto parts store and get some Gasket Paper and some ultra black silicon. Take the silicon and smear a very thin layer on the housing. Then place the gasket paper down on the table and press the housing to it. Let it sit for about 2 hours. Take the housing up and take a razor and cut very carefully out all of the holes. Do this again spread the ultra black on the gasket paper that is now attatched to the housing. Press it down. Let it sit. Cut it out. then spread some more ultra black on the gasket paper that is now double thick and install it. This works like a charm. I drove my self crazy trying to get everything sealed on that 2.4L it is not fun. Just so you know you had better hope that the mechanic who installed the water pump changed the timing set because it will jump timing very easily. This is how I ended up working on the 2.4 from some wanna be mechanic thinking he installed a water pump.