Thread: Water pump?

Long story short.

Car is an 07 GT (supercharged). I did the coolant elbows about 2 months ago and all was well.

I started noticing coolant loss about a week ago. After looking around it appeared to me that the lower elbow might have been leaking since it seemed to be wet and it looked like the serpentine belt was flinging coolant. I did coolant elbows again on Sunday.

It appears the elbows were not the problem. I actually have a semi-significant leak, but I am unable to source it. There is a steady drip running down the crossmember that runs to the front part of the subframe even with the car not running. I looked everywhere and its source is mystifying me. I even got up under the car and in the wheel well and got antifreeze dripped in my mouth looking for this damned leak.

Does this sound like it could be the water pump, or water pump gasket?

Also i noticed a little rubber elbow coming out of the firewall. It appears to me to be where condensation would run off from the condeser. There was what I would consider to be a hell of a lot of condensation dripping out considering I haven't used the AC in over a week. Does that sound like some sort of issue as well?

Thanks for any help that can be offered. Hopefully it doesn't completely let go on me and I can make it to the weekend keeping it topped off, or I can get it fixed before that.

have you tested the w/p pulley for play? or rust in the weep hole or a snail trail from the weep hole? mirror and a flash light are my friend for them checks.

I was hoping either you or Bill would post.

No, didn't check it for play. I can do that. Probably a stupid question, but should I check for play with the belt on or off?

I think I have a little mirror, if not I can grab one at work tomorrow.

belt off, stand at the pass side fender, grab it from the right and left side, do a push pull type deal. if it has any play, its either already leaking, or on its way.

at least they are a easy change.

OK, I'll pop the belt off real quick and check. I am pretty sure it is the water pump though. I couldn't find the damn weep hole with my mirror, but there appears to be a little bit of water laying in the area below the water pump and behind the crank pulley.

i think we have two holes, one top of the snout, one on the bottom, they are close to the pulley on the snout of the pump.


you can see one hole for sure, right side of the pump, i painted mine. i had a few days before i could get it on and was bored.

and at the bottom right you see the idler by the crank off. you need a T55 to get that off, the long bolts wont clear it.

same as the p/s pump, it needs to be unbolted as well for the long bolts to clear too.

put thread sealant on the 4 long bolts too. and a dry gasket, no rtv needed.

Alright, water pump is the culprit. It has a decent amount of play in it. I wouldn't be shocked if it is the OEM original with almost 147k miles.

Thanks Scotty. I though I was losing my mind looking for a missing leak, and I should have just went with my first instinct. I'll pick up a water pump tomorrow and if worse comes to worse I'll fix the car at work.

and break the 4 bolts on the pulley before you take the belt off, or its a fight, same as back on, they are the last 4 bolts to tighten after the belts back on.

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

and break the 4 bolts on the pulley before you take the belt off, or its a fight, same as back on, they are the last 4 bolts to tighten after the belts back on.

Good advice. I would have ended up taking the belt off, then putting it back on to loosed them.

As long as I have a new water pump, coolant, a T55, and the normal sockets, wratchets, and wrenches I should be good to go right?

yes sir.

you know how the p/s pump come off right?


socket through the hole in the pulley. i used a shallow socket, and a 3 inch extension, bolts at @ 12 and 6 of the pulley.

almost forgot, if your over flow jug is right there, remove that, and it may not be needed, but i un bolted my fuse box, used some string and tied it up out of the way. i got gorilla hands lol

All the advice is more than welcomed. I was looking it over to get the best idea possible on what it will take. At least its not my Stealth. You have to tear the front of the engine down to get the to water pump, because it is driven by the timing belt.

Thanks again, and again. I'lll update when its all done tomorrow evening.

My bottle is almost brand new. I bought a replacement from GM a few months back because mine popped free of the lower mount and the alternator pulley rubbed a hole in it. I had the bottle sitting on the rad support and there was still a drip. The overflow only has water in it since I kept losing coolant and it was definitely green (still some coolant in the block) dripping off.

The bottle was one of the first things I started checking. Not my issue, but it could be someone else's in the future.

I already ordered the t55. I did the online thing with Advance because I got 15% off. If I end up not needing it I will just take it back. Thanks.