GM 55352002 Water Pump

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A failure in the water pump can cause engine damage due to 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 leaks harder to detect. However, coolant coming out of the lower timing belt cover can indicate a leak. 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. Even if a water pump shows no signs of a problem, 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.

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. It is important to use a flashlight to locate the vent hole on the water pump and check for any leaks. 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 drive belt 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.

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

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

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.