Water pump replacement

[shagtones]

I noticed the dreaded "spatter" on the inside of the hood today, checked the weep, definately wet...bummer.

How difficult is the pump removal and replacement? I've done pumps before, but never on an LT4 engine. Is there a step by step procedure that's "member" approved?

Any help most appreciated!

 

[Stinger !!]

Shagtones,

I recently had the same situation with my LT4...dried rad. fluid on the inside of the hood and the belt had it on it as well. No leaks on to the floor but enough to leave marking on the hood.

In my quest to discover the best way to handle this, I learned there are a variety of economical ways to proceed, most of which included my ability to change the pump myself.

Lots of aftermaket pumps as well as GM / Delco pumps available ....anyhow, after careful discovery into the best way to handle the replacement I learned that if you take the car to a GM (Chevy) service facility and pay the extra $150 or so in labor to have it done there, you get a life time warranty on the pump and the labor.

Ok, thats all great but I was surprised to find out that this warranty also covers the 'Opti' spark module that is located directly below the pump. Providing yours checks out 'ok' at the time of inspection by the GM service tech doing the pump replacement, if the new GM installed pump ever leaks and causes any damage to the existing opti...it is also covered under the pump warranty as well....I spent the extra $150 to have mine done at the dealer!

96' Vette with warranty that 'IS' transferable!!! Go figure..........

My 2 cents worth!!

 

[shagtones]

Thanks for the info Stinger. What was your total cost then? I'm across the state from you in Clearwater. Dealer here should have the same offer I'd assume.

Thanks again for your reply!

 

[Stinger !!]

Thanks for the info Stinger. What was your total cost then? I'm across the state from you in Clearwater. Dealer here should have the same offer I'd assume.

Thanks again for your reply!

Shagtones,

When I had this done back in October of '05, you have to keep in mind that in addition to the waterpump repair, I had the serpentine belt replaced as radiator fluid will quickly destroy the belt if wet (and mine was), new radiator fluid and flush, a new GM OEM Delco replacement battery (trying to keep it as original as possible), Mobil One & oil filter change along with a complete exterior wax & polish in the body shop...the place I went to is a big Vette center (Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne, FL) and has the right knowledge and people to perform this...total bill was $588.00....the GM waterpump and new GM 'red' fluid was $210.00...alittle pricey like I mentioned earlier but you get the GM warranty that is life time and transferable...my LT4 has only 27,000 on the clock and is as close as you can get to "like new" as one can expect from a 10 year old car....again I hope this gives you something to think about...the Opti Module alone is about a $1200 part/repair if it goes bad...and most of the time when they go bad, it's from water damage from a leaky waterpump!

To me it was worth the extra $$$.....after all, these cars are....
"MADE IN THE USA"...
(and prone to breakdown @ 3:00am in bum f^&* Egypt!!)

 

[shagtones]

Stinger,

I sent an email to the service dept., Dimmitt Chevrolet, and received this reply...

After reviewing your email
with my Service Manager we found the information you received to be
partially correct. General Motors does offer a lifetime parts and labor
warranty on a water pump and on an opti-spark. This warranty is given to
those customers that purchase and install at a GM Dealership. However, if
only a water pump is purchased and then later leaks onto the opti-spark, the
opti-spark would not be covered. There is no consiquential damage clause to
the lifetime service gaurantee GM offers on their lifetime warranty parts.
In other words, to receive a lifetime warranty on a water pump and on an
opti-spark...both items would have to show proof of purchase. From past
experience with that particular motor it would be our dealership advise that
if your water pump is leaking to replace the vehicle's opti-spark as well.
On that particular motor once the opti-spark receives any amount of
saturation from a water pump leak...it will have an issue starting almost
instantly if not soon after the water pump is put on. In fact, we have had
it happen so many times at our dealership that if just the water pump is
replaced we have to put a disclaimer about a possible no start situation
after the work is performed.

WTF??

I'm not really that surprised though I've had trouble with that dearlership in the past, I was hoping maybe they'd step up to the plate...silly me.

Do you know if there's anyway to verify GM's policy on this as I would love to put the screws to Dimmitt if they're attempting to hose me (again).

 

[Stinger !!]

Stinger,

I sent an email to the service dept., Dimmitt Chevrolet, and received this reply...

After reviewing your email
with my Service Manager we found the information you received to be
partially correct. General Motors does offer a lifetime parts and labor
warranty on a water pump and on an opti-spark. This warranty is given to
those customers that purchase and install at a GM Dealership. However, if
only a water pump is purchased and then later leaks onto the opti-spark, the
opti-spark would not be covered. There is no consiquential damage clause to
the lifetime service gaurantee GM offers on their lifetime warranty parts.
In other words, to receive a lifetime warranty on a water pump and on an
opti-spark...both items would have to show proof of purchase. From past
experience with that particular motor it would be our dealership advise that
if your water pump is leaking to replace the vehicle's opti-spark as well.
On that particular motor once the opti-spark receives any amount of
saturation from a water pump leak...it will have an issue starting almost
instantly if not soon after the water pump is put on. In fact, we have had
it happen so many times at our dealership that if just the water pump is
replaced we have to put a disclaimer about a possible no start situation
after the work is performed.

WTF??

I'm not really that surprised though I've had trouble with that dearlership in the past, I was hoping maybe they'd step up to the plate...silly me.

Do you know if there's anyway to verify GM's policy on this as I would love to put the screws to Dimmitt if they're attempting to hose me (again).

Shagtones....

I am going to look into this with my GM Dealer here in Melbourne, FL that did my pump...like I mentioned earlier, the warranty, as I was informed, was to include the Opti as long as at the time the service 'Vette' tech checked it out as OK...and it was... as a result I was informed it was covered in the event the new 'Lifetime" pump failed/leaked and caused the Opti to fail!!

I will double check the info I gave you earlier and if possible I will get some GM facts to refer to...stand by for a day or two and I will post the results...

My "James Bond 007" hat is being pulled out of retirement...Look out Jim Rathman Chevrolet / "Corvette HeadQuarters"...A pi**ed off 6'3" 230lb. German is headin' your way!!!

Stinger!!

 

[shagtones]

Give 'em hell Stinger!! :bash

 

[Stinger !!]

Give 'em hell Stinger!! :bash

shagtones....

I was right! If there is a waterpump problem after a GM dealer installs a new one, not only is the pump and labor covered but so is the Opti if it gets damaged as a result...Call Chris Powell @ Jim Rathman Chev in Melbourne @ 321 723 3611 ...he is the head service writer/manager and Vette specialist...ask him for a clarification! Let me know what you find out!!

 

[shagtones]

Great work Stinger!!

Did you actually talk with Chris and received verification from him? If so when I call do you mind if I reference you as a customer and what you had done? I don't want Chris to think I some kind of wacko calling from out of town to bug him.

Thanks for your efforts...much appreciated!

 

[Stinger !!]

Great work Stinger!!

Did you actually talk with Chris and received verification from him? If so when I call do you mind if I reference you as a customer and what you had done? I don't want Chris to think I some kind of wacko calling from out of town to bug him.

Thanks for your efforts...much appreciated!

Shagtones.....I sent you a PM...(personal message)

 

[CAJUN C4]

Might want to cosider the Mezier Electric pump..10 HP gain , $200.00 for the pump, excluding labor, and never ever a chance to leak on the Opti.No warranty required.
Just my thoughts.