GM 55352002 Water Pump

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Compare the new pump to the old one to ensure they're identical.

A failure in the water pump can lead to serious engine damage as it can cause overheating. The water pump is driven by the balance shaft chain on four-cylinder engines and by the timing belt on 3.0 V6 models. It is located beneath the timing cover on all models, making it harder to detect leaks. However, leaks can be identified by looking for coolant coming out of the lower timing belt cover. Water pumps have weep holes, and if the pump seal fails, coolant will leak from these holes. To check for leaks, the timing belt cover needs to be removed, and a flashlight and small mirror can be used to locate the hole on the water pump from underneath. If the water pump shaft bearings fail, a howling sound may be heard while the pump is running, and shaft wear can be felt by rocking the water pump pulley up and down with the drivebelt or timing belt removed. Even if a water pump shows no signs of a problem, such as noise or leakage, it may still need to be replaced as the fins on the back of the impeller can erode, reducing cooling efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended to replace the water pump whenever the timing chain or timing belt is replaced, using a new or rebuilt unit.

Finally, refill the cooling system, run the engine, and check for any leaks to ensure everything is functioning properly.

A failure in the water pump can lead to serious engine damage due to overheating. If the pump seal fails, coolant will leak either from the engine front cover in four-cylinder models or from the engine timing belt cover in V6 models. Water pumps are equipped with weep or vent holes, which can be checked using a flashlight. If the pump seal fails, coolant will leak from the weep hole. It is important to use a flashlight to locate the vent hole on the water pump and check for any leaks. In case of water pump shaft bearing failure, a howling sound may be heard near the water pump while it is running. When the engine is off, shaft wear can be felt by rocking the water pump pulley up-and-down. However, it is crucial not to mistake drivebelt slippage, which causes a squealing sound, for water pump bearing failure. A quick check to assess water pump performance is to turn on the heater. If the pump is failing, it may not be able to efficiently circulate hot water all the way to the heater core as it should.

On 2004 models, after draining the coolant, remove the thermostat housing pipe bolt from the front of the engine block and disconnect the ECT harness connector.