Buick 12482696 Water Pump Kit

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A failure in the water pump can cause serious engine damage due to overheating as the pump will not be able to circulate cooled water through the engine. There are three ways to check the operation of the water pump while it is still installed on the engine and if the pump is suspect, it should be replaced with a new or factory rebuilt unit. With the engine warmed up to normal operating temperature, squeeze the upper radiator hose. If the water pump is working properly, a pressure surge should be felt as the hose is released. Water pumps are equipped with weep or vent holes, if a failure occurs to the bladder of the pump, small amounts of water will leak from these weep holes. In most cases, it will be necessary to use a flashlight from under the car to see evidence from this point in the pump body. If the water pump shaft bearings fail there may be a squealing sound at the front of the engine while it is running. Shaft wear can be felt if the water pump pulley is forced up and down. Do not mistake drivebelt slippage, which also causes a squealing sound, for water pump failure.

It is not economical or practical to overhaul a water pump. If failure occurs, a new or rebuilt unit should be purchased to replace the faulty water pump. First, disconnect the negative battery cable. Then, drain the radiator. Remove the generator drivebelt. If equipped, remove the power steering drivebelt and the A/C compressor drivebelt. Disconnect the coolant hoses from the water pump. Remove the water pump mounting bolts and lift out the pump. On L4 engines equipped with air conditioning, it may be necessary to remove the A/C compressor from its mounts in order to gain enough clearance to remove the water pump. If installing a new or rebuilt pump, transfer the pulley from the old unit to the new one. Ensure the sealing surfaces are clean of any foreign material. Then place a bead of gasket sealant on the pump sealing surface. While the sealant is still wet, install the pump and torque the mounting bolts to specs. The remainder of the installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Adjust all drivebelts to the proper tension. Connect the negative battery cable and fill the radiator with a mixture of ethylene glycol antifreeze and water in a 50/50 mixture. Start the engine and allow to idle until the upper radiator hose gets hot. Check for leaks. With the engine hot, fill with more coolant mixture until the level is at the bottom of the filler neck. Install radiator cap and check coolant level periodically over the next few miles of driving.

They should be loosened before disconnecting the coolant lines from the water pump.

The first way is to 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.

A squealing sound emitted from the front of the engine while it is running can indicate a failure in the water pump shaft bearings.

If the water pump is suspect, it should be replaced with a new or factory-rebuilt unit.

Start by disconnecting the cable from the negative battery terminal and draining the cooling system.

Mark the accessory drive belts with white paint to simplify installation.

Apply a thin coat of gasket sealant on the new gaskets.