Alright, I got a new waterpump and I need to get it on ASAP. From what I read, it's basically just unbolting the old one, and bolting up the new one along with hooking up all the lines correctly. But that's really all I know. I tried to search for answers, but found vague responses. I know you need to flush your coolant and I have read about "bleeding the air line" or something of the sort. I really need some help on how to exactly do everything right and the correct order. I hope someone can help me out. Thanks.

 

Pretty straight forward.

What I did today with mine to pull out my dead opti was I unhooked all the hoses to the waterpump. I was in a hurry so I didnt care what kinda mess I made and believe you me coolant will go everywhere.

Next its just a matter of taking out the 6 bolts that hold it to the block. Need a deep and standard 9/16" socket plus a short, maybe 4", extension. Now if you still have the air pump in place then you will need to drop that before you can get to the water pump. You will also have to get the fan assembly out for more room to work. Basically just remove the 3 screws holding that black shroud that covers your radiator and pull it off. then there are 4 clips that hold the fan assembly in place. YOu have to lift UP on teh assembly to release them and push the assembly towards the motor so it will fall free of the radiator on to the ground.

Then try to keep teh opti from getting too wet by placing a towel under the waterpump and pull the pump off the block.

Scrape all the old gasket off the block. Put new gaskets with some sorta RTV to prevent leaks and just reverse everything.

Getting the system bled is kind of a chore though. You need to refill the radiator obviously. Then start the car with the bleed screws open. When they start to leak coolant, close them up. Might help if you just did 1 at a time... hard to say b/c i own an electric pump so my steps arent quite the same.

 

First drain the coolant. Actually the fans you push up from the bottom to unhook them then you drop them out the bottm. You don't have to take out the fan shroud bolts for it to come loose. Then you need to take the air pump and mounting bracket off. I removed my air pump completely years ago so i don't really remember how many bolts are involved. Then there are 6 bolts on the waterpump. There is one behind the powersteering pulley that is a bi+ch to get to. Remove the pump and stick the new one on making sure the waterpump shaft engages the driveshaft on the back. Then after you put the new water pump on hook up the hoses and then remove the thermostat housing and thermostat housing and fill with coolant. After that assemble back together the reverse order you took apart. When you first fire the car up watch the temp gauge and if it shoots up to the red in the first min or two you need to open the bleeder screws on the coolant lines and let the air out, then close them again. If you fire it up and after a few minutes of running it doesn't hit the red your in the clear and you don't need to bleed it.

 

Holy crap. I officially hate this engine. I cannot get the bolt behind the power steering pulley off. I am sooo pissed. All the work getting the bracket off and everything else, and I cannot get the entire water pump off b/c of ONE BOLT. Ridiculous. Please someone help.

 

I stuck a short socket on mine then slipped the extension in to attach to the socket it worked , I also left the socket on until i pulled it off.

 

Finally got that bolt. I still don't know how it came off. Lucky I guess. I swear, I get so frustrated with these engines. My Camaro better be glad I love her so much, cause if I didn't, she would be gone in a heartbeat.

 

i had the same problem,, before you strip the bolt,, put a couple of bolts on the opposite side to reduce stress on the bolt that has all the pressure on it, then it should be alot easier to remove the the bolt that is giving you the problem

 

oops, i didnt see that you already had it off

 

Yeah, I always do that. The problem wasn't getting the bolt loose, it was that the power steering pully was blocking the bolt from coming out. It was in the way, and I can't figure out why GM designed it that way.