How to replace water pump (pics)

458709 Views 365 Replies 218 Participants Last post by PeayM, May 20, 2018

blbkabenvoy

Discussion Starter · Mar 19, 2010

Lots of informative information has been learned from this site. Figured I would contribute.
03 Envoy. 106k. Had Fan clutch replaced once. 2nd Water pump.
Started hearing a grinding in the front. Fan and water pump pulley could be moved around by hand.

Total time 30 Minutes. Didn't drain coolant. Just used a catch pan.

1. Engine bay shot of water pump hidden. Ugh... (LEAVE BELT ON)

2. Remove radiator cap to relieve any pressure.

3. Remove upper radiator hose.

4. Remove both lower transmission lines and 1 of 2 10mm radiator fan shroud bolts.

4. Remove 2nd 10mm radiator fan shroud bolt. Disconnect black clip for fan clutch.

5. Make sure hood is propped up nice and high. I used a pry bar and wedged it. Get an open ended wrench to fit the fan clutch bolt. I used a 1 1/2". (Those specialty tools are junk). Its a little bigger, but all I had. Still worked fine.

6. Make sure the wrench is clear of the 4 water pump pulley bolts and fan.

7. Get a firm grip on the wrench, and take a hammer and smack it 1 good hard time to bust the nut loose. Make sure the hood prop is not up.

8. Spin nut off and press in on fan to lift over the threaded end. Continue to lift upward on the fan and shroud at the same time to remove as 1 unit.

9. You might hit the radiator neck, just press shroud towards engine on passenger side and continue to lift.

10. Once removed, loosen (do not remove) the 4 13mm bolts holding the pulley. (LEAVE BELT ON)

11. Remove belt out of the way, and finish removing bolts from pulley, and remove.

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blbkabenvoy

Discussion Starter · #2 · Mar 19, 2010 (Edited)

12. Remove 5 10mm bolts holding water pump to engine. Prepare for coolant spillage.

13. Remove water pump, and clean old gasket material. Install new gasket and water pump.

14. Install 4 bolts back onto water pump pulley hand tight.

15. Install Belt

16. Snug bolts down

17. Start and check for leaks. Now is the time to replace the fan clutch if necessary. Check engine will illuminate until fan clutch is reinstalled.

18. Kids in the backseat watching a movie. Only 20 minutes into it.

19. No leaks, Great!:thumbsup: slide fan shroud and fan back in as 1 unit. Wiggle around the upper neck until it seats back. Press in on the fan until it goes back over the threads of the new water pump, and tighten back down spinning the nut clockwise. Adjust the fan shroud for the proper alignment. MAKE SURE THE 2 LOWER TABS ARE PLACE BACK IN THEIR POSITIONS!

20. Take the hammer back out and give the wrench 3 good smacks back clockwise to tighten nut.

21. Attach 2 10mm bolts back to upper shroud support.
22. Attach 2 transmission lines back to shroud on passenger side.
23. Attach black fan clutch connector on drivers side.
24. Attach upper radiator hose.
25. Start vehicle and let idle. Refill coolant at radiator checking frequently.
26. Put radiator cap back on, and rinse down excess spillage with water.

Total time 30 minutes.

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wcosh

· #3 · Mar 19, 2010

Now, that's a nice write up !
How did you keep the camera clean?

RedEnvoyDenali

· #4 · Mar 19, 2010

Great Job, always nice to pics and even nicer to have words to describe what is going on

:thx :thumbsup:

rmsg0040

· #5 · Mar 19, 2010 (Edited)

can somebody sticky this please.

Step 25, where did u refill coolant, at the resevoir tank or at the cap, by the rad hoses?
Step 26, why did u rinse down with water?

I like the x beam wrench. Good writeup and nice pics. Very useful.

trailballer

· #6 · Mar 19, 2010

Great writeup:thumbsup:

step 14 Hand Tight should be in RED

Also why is your fan white?? Just wondering

wardak33

· #7 · Mar 19, 2010

Very Informative! thanks!

trailballer said:
Great writeup:thumbsup:

step 14 Hand Tight should be in RED

Also why is your fan white?? Just wondering

Looks fine to me lol

blbkabenvoy

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 19, 2010

wcosh said:
Now, that's a nice write up !
How did you keep the camera clean?

My blackberry works better dirty

rmsg0040 said:
can somebody sticky this please.

Step 25, where did u refill coolant, at the resevoir tank or at the cap, by the rad hoses?
Step 26, why did u rinse down with water?

I like the x beam wrench. Good writeup and nice pics. Very useful.

Filled at the radiator. Resivoir didn't go down much.
Rinsed off excess coolant on bottom skid plate.

trailballer said:
Great writeup:thumbsup:

step 14 Hand Tight should be in RED

Also why is your fan white?? Just wondering

Done. Camera maybe? Its an off yellow/white color.

rmsg0040

· #9 · Mar 19, 2010

thanks for clearing up those 2 questions I had.

Fore V

· #10 · Mar 22, 2010

This was of a great help! Thank you!
I am replacing my second water pump (New AC Delco part $112 from GM dealer) (Originally replaced by my mechanic with an aftermarket part) and saved a few $$$. I do realize now that my water pump failure is due to my fan clutch / blades. From the first replacement, the fan blades were damaged (dug into the shroud) making the fan oscillating (Not caught by my mechanic). Therefore damaging the water pump bearings. For $200 I got a used fan clutch with fan and shroud. Not installed yet.

the roadie

· #11 · Mar 22, 2010

Just make sure your fan clutch is the redesigned 2005+ version, or you'll be cursing your bargain when you have to swap it again.

Fore V

· #12 · Mar 22, 2010

Thanks Roadie! I was able to cancel my purchase for a 2004 Fan Clutch / Blade / Shroud and purchase a 2006. Waiting for delivery.
Cheers!

mubai

· #13 · Mar 22, 2010

Great write-up! I think you're all set for at least the next 12 months in terms of contribution.:thumbsup:

But with rave reviews like this, why wouldn't want to keep on going? Post more how to's. Show it off to your friends that have a hard time finding the gas cap.

dudestan

· #14 · Mar 24, 2010

Clutch fan

I did all the steps to remove the clutch fan and housing as though I were replacing the water pump, but I was just replacing the clutch fan. This is what I found. A frayed wire. Now I dont know if I actually did the fraying while trying to get the wires free of the wire bracket or if the wire was already frayed. But there was electrical tape wrapped around this section of frayed wire. Nonetheless since I did all this work I decided to install the 05 envoy clutch fan on to my 03 envoy just to make sure it works. We'll see. I'm in the middle of it and taking a break.

Wire Auto part Cable

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Loverotties

· #15 · Mar 24, 2010

the roadie said:
Just make sure your fan clutch is the redesigned 2005+ version, or you'll be cursing your bargain when you have to swap it again.

How do you know it's 2005+ version?

dudestan

· #16 · Mar 24, 2010

You're right

You're right I dont know for positive, I'm just going on what the wreckyard said, he said it was out of an 05 envoy, I'm hoping it works!!

Loverotties

· #17 · Mar 24, 2010

Oh ok,I thought maybe by the part number tells you.

spearman

· #18 · Mar 25, 2010

yes the part #

is different on the old ones.

Fore V

· #19 · Mar 27, 2010

I finally received my used 2006 Fan Clutch and found times this morning to install. It took me 1/2 hour and all is good. Thanks again Roadie for the "heads up"
Cheers!

Loverotties

· #20 · Mar 27, 2010

How do you know it's not a cheap japanese one?Are all the ones on ebay japanese?

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