Water Pump?

**5LtrBtr** · 05-16-2006, 09:12 AM

Man it seems like all these little things are just starting to happen all at once. I've got about 77k on my 01. About a year ago, every once in a while I would get a slight whiff of coolant. I searched and searched but never could find the leak. I checked my coolant levels every couple of days but it never went down. The smell just disappeared one day. Last week as I sat in the parking lot at work I smelled it again stronger than usual. I checked my radiator yesterday and it was bone dry. Still no signs of a leak. My car was been running hotter than usual for a while now (not because of the low coolant) but I have an slp fan switch so it hasn't been a problem.
When the weep hole leaks on the ls1 pump, can you usually find traces of a leak? I know on my 85 vette when that one went you couldn't find a dry spot under the hood. I'm about 99% sure thats my problem but I figured I would see if anyone here had a similar problem and if there is something else I'm missing. And if you're going to recommend the water pump seals, I figure if I'm going to take the time to remove the water pump I might as well replace it. Thanks a lot, you guys are really helpful.

**2001NBMZ28** · 05-16-2006, 10:05 AM

Friend of mine had a bad radiator cap (not holding pressure) and was running a little hot. Heater core OK, not leaking? To trace a hard to find external leak you can bring it to a shop and have them put dye in the system, then they use a special light to find it.

**YoMommasTA** · 05-16-2006, 11:34 AM

water pump gaskets,replace them,i bean down this road.

**ss~zoso~ss** · 05-17-2006, 09:46 AM

i had to replace my water pump like 500 miles after i got it all i gotta say is $$$$$$$$$

**5LtrBtr** · 05-17-2006, 10:44 PM

Well I replaced the water pump today. The gaskets were bad, so thats where my coolant was going. The more I think about it, my problem with the car running hotter started around the time I put in the slp 160 thermostat. The car runs a little cooler after the new pump but still gets hotter than I think it should at idle for having a 160 in it. I may throw in a new thermostat and see what happens. BTW the water pump was surprisingly easily to replace, took just over an hour and I wasn't in any kind of hurry.

**SeVeReDiStOrTiOn** · 05-17-2006, 11:59 PM

Right on...also check the fins in the radiator for blockage....mine had tons of little pebbles and crap in there. If I was you i'd stick with a stock temp stat or the lowest i'd put in is a 180*...then tune the fan on/off temps to go along with the stat temp. I still have the stocker 195* and have the low/high speed fans on/off temps set to 208/197 and 217/207. So far I really like the settings...the low speed cycles on/off like it supposed to and never gets above 208....whatever settings you choose make sure the fans aren't always on or you'll drastically reduce the life of them.

**5LtrBtr** · 05-18-2006, 09:44 AM

Radiators clean. I checked that first thing hoping it would be something simple like that but nope. I may swap out the thermostat this weekend and see what happens. I really hate how the temp guage isn't accurate, I want to know exactly how hot my car is. I've considered putting a temp guage on the pillar. If I did that I'd have to put an oil guage or something there too because I don't like the look of just 1 guage. Thanks for all the help guys.