my 98 GP sounds like bearings out in water pump

[big daddy]

ive got a 98 pontiac grand prix gt with 180,000 on it and yesterday it started clattering when it was started and the low coolant light came on. i checked and it looks like to me the water pump is going bad sounds like the bearings are shot. I can see clear liquid leaking from underneath the pump. So what im wondering is does anybody think thats the problem i have? I dont want to bring it to a shop cause i cant afford it right now. How hard would it be to do it myself? i plan on getting a new one or rebuilt one if they make them. And can someone walk me through the steps involved in changing the water pump? I love my Grand Prix and i plan on running it into the ground. Thanks for any help!!

BIG DADDY

[matt5112]

its a water pump.

remove anything in your way, unbolt it, clean gasket surface, and reverse.

get one with a lifetime warranty if you wanna keep it.

If the bearings are going in it, you need a new W/P regardless but the coolant leak may be the plastic coolant elbows in the belt tensioner. check that out first.

[Silver GTP]

It's very easy to change the water pump in these cars. Remove the belt. Go through the holes in the power steering pump pulley and remove the two bolts that hold it on. Move the pump to the back a little bit. Remove the four bolts on the water pump pulley then take it off. Remove all the bolts on the water pump and remove it. Clean up the gasket surface and put your new pump in. Of course, you need to drain your coolant first and refill when done. Good luck.

[TheOtherNick]

What silver said, except loosen the w/p pulley bolts while the belt is on so it holds the pulley.

[big daddy]

ok, thanks everybody for the tips on the water pum i got it installed and a new belt also. only one problem when i took the water pump off there was one small screw back towards the power steering pump and when i put it all back together the small screw wont go back in, itried like vcrazy and i dont know what to do. anybody agot any suggestions? thanks, BIG DADDY

[Silver GTP]

Is it stripped out or will it just not start?