Driving into work this morning and felt the engine hesitate, looked down to find the check engine light on and the temperature pegged. I was one building away from work and nursed it into the nearest parking lot. Opened the hood and found the water pump fuse had blown. Tried to replace it which resulted in the fuse blowing again

Great.

Just wanted to check with the board here, I'm assuming either the pump shorted out or the relay may have gone bad. Can anyone give any input? Wondering if there is a way to check the relay and pump with a voltmeter..

Scenario 1: bypass or replace the relay and limp it home.

Scenario 2: tow it to a garage buy a new or rebuilt water pump and have them install it.

Scenario 3: But the waterpump and replace it in the parking lot? Any thoughts on this one?

 

I would start by disconnecting the waterpump wireing harness and jumping that with 12v from the battery to see if it runs.

In my experience relays stop working, but don't short out which would blow the fuse. But if the pump is good, then just wire it directly to the battery to drive it home.

If the CSI is bad get it towed home and wait for the replacement.

How old is it? i only have ~ 200 mi on mine

 

It's most probably the pump. Mine has gone out already and they repaired it for me but it took awhile. Luckily I had a good stock pump at my house and I installed it to run untill my CSI got back. I don't reccomend an electric w/p for a daily driver. JMO Espeacially if you drive 1hr or more a day.

 

Its only 1 1/2 years old, and I would guestimate about 15,000 to 20,000 miles.

Took a look at the relay actually pulled it apart and everything looks to be in working order.
I'll try to put direct power to it during lunch, see if it moves..

Towing home might be expensive, considering it's about 45 miles. guess I'll check to see how much it costs..

Not too upset about this, biggest problem is the towing and finding a way home tonight. Was planning on a rebuild this winter anyhow.

 

Interesting...

Just wired power directly to the pump and it works (I can hear the pump motor).

I have a hard time believing the relay could cause the fuse to blow, must be a short in the wiring.

Question is, do I have the guts to drive it home tonight in 95+ degree rush hour traffic? $185 to get it towed on a flatbed not too bad for a price..

The more I think about it, $185 is pretty decent compared to the possible higher costs in engine damage.

 

oh come on, 185 bucks! Just tinker with the wireing and rig it up directly to the battery with a fuse. Yes you';ll have to get out and disconect it when you get home, but hyou'll have 185 in your pocket and save the rest of us from all the ricers going "oh look another broken camaro/firebird" Now that you know ther eis a prob, just keep an eye on the gauge, shouldn';t be that hard to keep track of.

-brent

 

If the fuse is blowing, then wouldn't that be a shorting problem and not a relay?

I thought if a relay went bad, it didn't sent any power at all, not blow a fuse.

The fuse is a weak link in the wiring, whose job is to burn up just in case of a positive wire becoming grounded somewhere down the line.

I'd check to see if the wire has been burned or a naked spot on there.

If you bypass the fuse, I think that you are going to really find the problem, but it isn't going to be pretty.

I have my water pump tapped onto a wire that gets hot when the ignition is on, with no relays in the wiring at all.

Good luck!

D Moss

 

Agreed, you obviously have some kind of short in the wiring, I would jerry rig it for now and go through the whole wiring when you get home.

 

On my CSI I blew several fuses and had some problems until I replaced the fuse holder w/ a quality one. I got it from the shop that does all my stereo work. It isn't like the cheesy one that comes w/ it. you put fuse in a accual holder type thing and a l;ittle cap goes over the top of the fuse. On the one that comes w/ it the spring that holds pressure on the fuse goes bad and messes up. The one you need holds a flat fuse not round(forgot the major difference). I thought i was popping fuses on mine till i realised i was just moving the wire to make contact. I also have an LED light to mount inside the car to be on when the pump is on(been meaning to intall that for like a year).

 

Dang!! Almost thought I had it there! Had the pump running and topped off the coolant when about 5 minutes later it started blowing fuses again

Brent: If I could I would man, almost thought I had it. However I think I'd much rather have the ricers (not that there are many of them out here) see the ride behind a tow truck than stuck on the side of the road during rush hour!