[cacevedo]

How do you change the water pump on a 1998 Saturn SL1?

[TxGreaseMonkey]

1. Allow engine to cool.

2. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Drain engine coolant from radiator and block drains into a suitable clean container.

CAUTION When draining the coolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are attracted by ethylene glycol antifreeze, and are quite likely to drink any that is left in an uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove fatal in sufficient quantity. Always drain the coolant into a sealable container. Coolant may be reused, unless it is contaminated or several years old.

3. Remove serpentine drive belt.

4. Raise front of vehicle and support safely, using suitable jack stands. Remove right front wheel and inner plastic fender liner.

5. If access to the water pump is desired from under hood, remove the air conditioning compressor bolts and position the compressor aside with the refrigerant lines intact.

6. Spray water pump hub with penetrating oil to loosen any rust or corrosion that might bind the pulley and damage it during removal.

7. Remove water pump pulley bolts and allow pulley to hang freely on the hub. A 1 in. (25.4 mm) block of wood, or a hammer handle, may be wedged between the pump and crankshaft pulleys to hold the assembly while loosening the retaining bolts.

8. Move pulley outward or remove, as necessary, for access and remove the 6 water pump flange bolts. Carefully pull the pump and pulley assembly away from the engine and remove the assembly from the vehicle. If necessary, a gasket scraper may be inserted under the flange, but be careful not to damage the machined aluminum block sealing surface.

To install:

1. Thoroughly clean the gasket mating surfaces of all old gasket material.

2. Apply a small amount of gasket sealant at the outer edges of the bolt holes to hold the gasket in place, then install the gasket onto the water pump assembly.

3. Install the pump assembly with the small bump located next to one of the attaching bolts in the 11 o'clock position. Install and tighten the bolts in a criss-cross sequence to 22 ft.-lbs. (30 Nm).

4. Install or reposition the pump pulley, as applicable, and tighten the bolts to 19 ft.-lbs. (25 Nm). If the pump hub exposed through the pulley is rusty, clean it with a wire brush and apply a thin coat of primer to prevent the pulley from rusting onto the hub.

5. Install serpentine belt, right splash shield, and right tire assembly.

6. If repositioned, install the air conditioning compressor.

7. Close the radiator drain plug and install the cylinder block drain plug. Tighten the block plug to 26 ft.-lbs. (35 Nm).

8. Connect negative battery cable and properly fill the cooling system.

9. Start engine and check for coolant leaks.

[cacevedo]

I can't see the water pump, I just see like a pully/plate

[TxGreaseMonkey]

It will likely be visible, when you place the car on jack stands and remove the right wheel and fender liner.

Buy a quality replacement water pump that comes with a lifetime warranty.

[cacevedo]

Is there anything else I might need to know?

[TxGreaseMonkey]

It's an external water pump, AutoZone Part No. AWP-844, $32.99. Doesn't look like it should be too bad to replace. This would be a good time to refill the cooling system with a 50/50 mixture of Dex-Cool and distilled water. Be sure to clean the overflow reservoir and fill to the MAX Line.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

This is an ideal time to replace the idler pulley and serpentine belt, if they have 80,000 miles on them.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

You may need to temporarily move things, like the overflow reservoir or power steering pump, aside for access. Just use common sense.

Remember to coat the gasket, on both sides, with sealant. I used Permatex Form-A-Gasket No. 2, when I replaced the water pump on my 2000 Taurus. I used a small flux brush (Item 41338) from Harbor Freight, to apply the sealant.

[cacevedo]

This is how we knew we needed to replace the water pump, we just flushed the radiator and put new coolant in it and then we notices the leak. We always flush our radiators out before winter and before summer.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Where was it leaking? How many miles are on the car?

[cacevedo]

Where the pully is at and water settles into the frame. Can't really tell what it looks like because the pully is covering it. When turned on you can hear a humming sound from the water pump.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Likely the water pump is bad. How many miles are on the car?

[cacevedo]

189,XXX Miles. We use it for commuting to work.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Yes, it's likely the water pump. I don't think you'll have too much trouble, once you gain access. Removing the fender liner is an important trick, when working on FWD cars.

[cacevedo]

Okay so what's the trick?

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Placing car on jack stands, removing the right front wheel, and removing the fender liner. There are likely push-pins, sometimes called Christmas tree pins, holding the liner in place. Carefully, pry under the liner and remove the pins. The liner is often in two halves--remove only the side you need to for access.

I use a Lisle 35400 Door Upholstery Remover tool to remove these pins.

[mrkeith77]

Our 98 had old antifreeze and froze and cracked the water pump. Thankfully it was just the pump. We have a Pull-a Part near our home and I'll get another pump from there. My problem is, I'm not sure how to release the belt tensioner. It looks like a simple spring, so a bar should push the pulley back and free up the belt. I think the pump housing is steel if I choose to weld the little crack, but I think the best way would be to replace the pump. 324 WATER PUMP $3.50 (Directly from the Pull-a Part website price list). Changing it is quite easy one the right wheel and fender skirt are removed. It's kind of a weird angle, but just turn the water pump pulley so each bolt is in the most accessible lower position and it will come off pretty easily. Wedge a small rubberized hammer handle between the water pump pulley and the crank pulley when you break each of the four bolts loose, then turn them out as mentioned before. I like what someone else said here about using a gasket scraper to pop the seal at the edge of the pump face. Yeah, you really don't want to gouge the block, it could make for a lousy seal when you put everything back together again. Don't forget to use Perm-a-gasket (the one that dries like pliable rubber) or RTV Blue gasket sealant to both sides of the new gasket (or the old one if you are as cheap as I am) before installation. Don't over-tighten the bolts on the pump or the pulley, water pump to block bolts 22 ft lbs, water pump pulley bolts 19 ft lbs (according to: http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44221&highlight=torque) borrow or rent the torque wrench. Don't turn an easy solution into a really bad afternoon.