My mechanic and I, between the two of us, nearly have the cooling system figured out. The final thing we're thinking needs replacing is the water pump as the car can get up to 200+ degrees (before we shut if off) and the radiator is cold. There is some heat in hoses closer to the engine itself.
Brand new hoses all around, new thermostat (installed correctly!!! woohoo!!!), and fan switch. Water pumps are fairly inexpensive at Vicks, around $45. I was just wondering if a water pump is salvageable/rebuildable. Is the old / bad one something that can / should be saved? Is it something that there are lots of and, because it is cheap, is not worth salvaging?
(How's that for a newbie-car owner question of the day?)
Water Pump
-
kmead
- Posts: 1069
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:24 pm
- Your car is a: 1969 850 SC 1970 124 SC 85 X19
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Re: Water Pump
You can get a kit for it. A new one will be faster to replace and get back on the road.
Karl
1969 Fiat 850 Sports Coupe
1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe
1985 Bertone X1/9
1969 Fiat 850 Sports Coupe
1970 Fiat 124 Sports Coupe
1985 Bertone X1/9
-
manoa matt
- Posts: 3442
- Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
- Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Re: Water Pump
"the car can get up to 200+ degrees (before we shut if off) and the radiator is cold. There is some heat in hoses closer to the engine itself."
Sounds like you still have an air pocket in the system.
The water pump will only affect the temp of the system if the belt is slipping, or the impellers are corroded away (GMB Brand)
If in doubt about the age of the pump, you might as well replace it. Don't fiddle trying to save money by rebuilding it. You need a machineist to press in the bearings and the impeller, and that cost will upset any savings.
I've heard NAPA has Fiat spider water pumps. Rockauto.com may be the cheapest.
Sounds like you still have an air pocket in the system.
The water pump will only affect the temp of the system if the belt is slipping, or the impellers are corroded away (GMB Brand)
If in doubt about the age of the pump, you might as well replace it. Don't fiddle trying to save money by rebuilding it. You need a machineist to press in the bearings and the impeller, and that cost will upset any savings.
I've heard NAPA has Fiat spider water pumps. Rockauto.com may be the cheapest.
-
cutchaguy
Re: Water Pump
I am hoping that the mechanic knows about "burping" cars to get rid of air bubbles. 
-
TulsaSpider
- Posts: 1547
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
- Location: Tulsa, Ok
-
cutchaguy
Re: Water Pump
Well. . .considering the age and milage, I'll have a new waterpump put on and take down a couple of the burp your baby write-ups I have seen here so he can look at it.
-
So Cal Mark
Re: Water Pump
it's very easy to see if a water pump is actually pumping water. I'd expect any experienced mechanic to be able to verify that. Your radiator could also be plugged. Has the temperature been checked across the radiator for uniformity?
-
cutchaguy
Re: Water Pump
He's gone through the radiator and found that it has no plugs and was replaced at one point. He has a insta-read laser temperature gun that he's been using. I'll be asking though just to make sure.