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Water-pump changeout questions

Q

quickster

New member
Need to replace the water-pump on an '04 grand prix gt 3800 series3. How many bolts need to be removed to pull the water pump? The book (Haynes) says 9, the picture of the pump on O'Reillys web sight only shows 8 bolt holes. Should any permatex be used between gasket and pump or gasket and engine? Should anything be removed in order to make more room to work (power steering pump, tensioner, etc.)? Thanks.
 


think theres 8 bolts. P/s pump needs to be mover out of the way. It is held on by 2 13mm bolts, you get those by going threw the p/s pulley. If it has the rubber gasket with it I would not use any silicone, if it is a paper gasket I would put a thin layer on each side.
 
Looks like it will be a paper gasket. Should I use the blue, black, or red permatex? Or is there another one that's better? Thanks for the advice TheOtherNick.
 
If the surface is clean, don't use rtv. If the surface isn't clean, pray and use some.

2 ps pump bolts 13mm
4 water pump pulley bolts 8mm
4 large bolts on wp 13mm
4-5 small bolts on wp 10mm

Let's not forget the belt tensioner 15mm
 
Gotchya. Don't have to remove the belt tensioner though, correct?

Quick question. After changing out the power-steering pump, I still have a whining noise goin on. Just wonder if the noise could be coming from the tensioner. Any way of checking this tensioner to rule out or confirm if it may be coming from that?
 
Changed out the water-pump today. Just wanted to thank you guys for the info. and advice. I did use a thin layer of RTV to keep the gasket in place on the pump. Torqued the bolts and everything so far looks good. There were 8 bolts total. Still makes an annoying whining noise. All the pulleys seem fine. Noise worsens as engine speed increases. Noticed the transmission fluid is brown in color. Could this be transmission noise if the fluid is bad? Makes the noise during idle and in park though. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks again.

By the way, where the heck is the radiator drain plug? Never did find it.
 
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