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Is my water pump going bad?

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    #1

    Is my water pump going bad?

    I have searched and trolled for a while, and can't find a good description of what a bad water pump sounds like.

    My car has a rhythmic "swishing" sound, sounds kinda like squeezing a real wet sponge real fast. When the rpms go up, the other engine noise drowns it out.

    My engine temp is fine, no coolant leaks, and the PO changed the timing belt and water pump (work was done by a shop and I have the receipts) less than 20k miles ago.

    But the sound really seems to be coming from the water pump. I thought it was my power steering pump because I am having some issues in that area. But when I slide under the car when it is running and put my ear up to the power steering pump, I don't hear anything. And it sounds like it is coming from the water pump.

    I am really hoping it is something else cuz I know I will change the timing belt and everything else in there if I do the water pump, and I want to drive the damn thing instead of work on it for a change.

    Thank you for the help...
    Tags: None
    #2
    Stick an automotive stethoscope on the pump. If it is the source of the noise you'll then know.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

    Comment

      #3
      Is an automotive stethoscope the same as a an empty roll of paper towels? Or a stick? Cuz that is the best I have...

      Thanks for reply. Now I have something else to buy. :)

      Comment

        #4
        a screw driver works put your ear on the handle touch the other end to what you wanna listen to

        '89 Alpine S52 with goodies

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          #5
          could you have air in your system and thats what your hearing?

          1988 325iC Project - FINISHED!
          Build Thread: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ht=325iC+paint

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            #6
            Originally posted by bimmerboy12 View Post
            could you have air in your system and thats what your hearing?
            Good thought.... I haven't had any leaks that I know of and I haven't had the system open at all. Oh, I did pull the throttle body a few months ago.

            I will flush and bleed system and see what happens. Definitely worth trying. Will try to get to it this afternoon and let you know what happens.

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by Adrian_Visser View Post
              a screw driver works put your ear on the handle touch the other end to what you wanna listen to
              I have done this - it sounds like it is coming from the water pump. Its just not what I wanted to hear ;)

              Comment

                #8
                Hard to say without being there and hearing it but the first thing I would want to know is if the timing belt and tensioner were past their prime. I have heard timing belts that have started to walk around (because the tensioner is worn and no longer parallel) make a noise that may be what you are describing.

                The noise from something like this can "telegraph" and be quite difficult to pinpoint even with the long ass screwdriver in the ear trick. You can remove the accessory belts to isolate it.
                I'm Not Right in the Head | Random Rants and other Nonsense1st Order Logic Failure: Association fallacy, this type of fallacy can be expressed as (∃x ∈ S : φ(x)) → (∀x ∈ S : φ(x)), meaning "if there exists any x in the set S so that a property φ is true for x, then for all x in S the property φ must be true".

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                  #9
                  Like I said, less than 20k on the timing belt and water pump. Which is why I was really hoping it would turn out to be something else. Its too hot to work on the car right now, but hopefully tomorrow morning I will bleed the cooling system to make sure it isn't just some air in the system.

                  I just changed the belts yesterday, should of thought of running it without the belts. Good idea.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Ok, I don't seem to have any air in the cooling system. I put a breaker bar on the water pump and can't really seem to pinpoint the noise to that. Almost sounds like it is coming from distributor cap. But i replaced that recently and had the noise before and after. Stopped the fan with paper and noise didn't change, so I don't think it is the fan clutch.

                    No bearing noise, no leaks in cooling system that I can find.

                    Oh well. Will let you know if I ever find it...

                    Comment

                      #11
                      still nothing. Gets much better (quieter) after engine warms up.

                      Doh, was just reading above as I wrote this - will run without belts and let you know what happens...

                      Comment

                        #12
                        did you have the tensioner changed when the timing belt and water pump were changed?

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                          #13
                          Alternator bearings.

                          1. Pull belt
                          2. Start engine
                          3. Fix

                          Closing SOON!
                          "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

                          Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

                          Thanks for 10 years of fun!

                          Comment

                            #14
                            I have a similar problem after a timing belt change. I changed the t belt, pulley, water pump, and dist cap. The noise goes away after a few minutes, and did not do it right after the change, but a week or so after. Any help would be great:

                            Here is the vid I shot:
                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMyZTdqHQxk

                            Comment

                              #15
                              See your other post.
                              The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                              Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                              Comment

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