Pontiac 12481997 Water Pump Kit

A failure in the water pump can cause overheating and serious engine damage because a defective pump will not circulate coolant through the engine. There are three ways to check the operation of the water pump while it is still installed on the engine. If any of the following checks indicate that the pump is defective, replaced it with either a new or rebuilt unit. Squeeze the upper radiator hose while the engine is running at normal operating temperature. If the water pump is working properly, a pressure surge will be felt as the hose is released. The water pump is equipped with a "weep" (vent) hole. If the pump seal fails, small amounts of coolant will leak through the weep hole. You will need to get underneath the water pump to see the weep hole, so raise the vehicle and place it on jackstands. Use a flashlight or a drop light to help you determine whether there is evidence of leakage from the weep hole. If the water pump shaft bearing fails, it will usually emit a squealing sound while it is running. Do not confuse drivebelt slippage, which also makes a squealing sound, with water pump bearing failure. Even before the bearing actually fails, shaft wear can be detected by grasping the pulley firmly and moving it up and down. If excessive side play is noted, the shaft or the bearing are worn and the pump should be replaced.