Mechanic question, Le Sabre water pump pulley

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Mechanic question, Le Sabre water pump pulley

Posted: 12/28/2002 10:44:32 AM EDT

I would like to know if what looks like the the water pump pulley on a 93 Buick LeSabre can be changed out by itself or is it necessary to replace the whole water pump?

Also I would like to know if the pulley is easily replaced or is there more to it than it looks?

The pulley is smooth and located in the center of the engine on a aluminum casting which to me looks like the water pump. Thanks

Thanks.

Posted: 12/28/2002 11:13:34 AM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
I would like to know if what looks like the the water pump pulley on a 93 Buick LeSabre can be changed out by itself or is it necessary to replace the whole water pump?

Also I would like to know if the pulley is easily replaced or is there more to it than it looks?

The pulley is smooth and located in the center of the engine on a aluminum casting which to me looks like the water pump. Thanks

Thanks.

View Quote

All cars that I've ever worked on have the water pump and the pulley as two different parts. The pulley is always screwed to the water pump my 3-4 screws.

Posted: 12/28/2002 11:20:27 AM EDT

[#2]

Some of the newer cars have a pulley that is pressed on. You need to get a pulley puller. You can rent them from some parts stores. But you will probably have to pull the water pump off to remove the pulley. I usually replace both.(water pump and pulley)

Posted: 12/28/2002 11:50:34 AM EDT

[#3]

Yeah if its bolted on the bolts are right there in plain sight.
If all you see in the middle of the pulley is the shaft then its most likely pressed on.

Why not just call down to the corner store and ask them?
Even if you get a moron on the phone they should be able to look at the pump on the shelf and tell you.

Posted: 12/28/2002 11:56:25 AM EDT

[#4]

Water pump pulleys are pretty easy to get off (alternator pulleys are harder..)

Posted: 12/28/2002 11:57:01 AM EDT

[#5]

rpd_fire and SocomCen thanks for replying.

I know they are individual parts but this pulley looks like a two piece deal. The outer piece has 6? small bolts around the outside that look like they hold the outer body of the pulley (that touches the belt) onto the inner body which has the bearing.

Posted: 12/28/2002 12:24:36 PM EDT

[#6]

tc6969 I was hoping a GM mechanic might be see this thread and offer help. This pulley has more going on than your standard pulley, I want an expert's advice before I take it apart and fxxk it all up, If an expert said it would be better to take it in I would.

Where I trade on Saturdays the small crew is high school and women employees that I don't feel comfortable taking advice from. Thanks

Posted: 12/28/2002 12:36:44 PM EDT

[#7]

The water pump pulley is held on with 4 bolts.
As a G.M. (Buick) parts manager I sell the water pumps daily, but dont recall ever selling a pulley.
Let me know if I can be of any help.

Posted: 12/28/2002 1:17:33 PM EDT

[#8]

Better question: Why do you want to replace the water pump pulley?

I know they are individual parts but this pulley looks like a two piece deal. The outer piece has 6? small bolts around the outside that look like they hold the outer body of the pulley (that touches the belt) onto the inner body which has the bearing.

View Quote

I don't know much about Le Sabres in particular, but that sounds kinda like a crank pulley...

Posted: 12/28/2002 2:39:52 PM EDT

[#9]

I don't know much about Le Sabres in particular, but that sounds kinda like a crank pulley...

View Quote

Me neither, but most crank pulleys I've seen are held on with one (huge) bolt. On the other hand, 6 bolts does seem like a lot just to hold a water pump pully on...

Posted: 12/28/2002 2:44:35 PM EDT

[#10]

It looks like the pulley mounts with as little as one bolt, according to my [b]1994 Lesabre Factory Service Manual[/b]. Also the end of the chapter mentions torque on the coolant pump to pulley bolt, size 13 (mm?) and 115 lb. inches or torque. Also those 6 bolts you see hold the whole coolant pump assembly in, so if you take them off you can remove the pump from the engine. Might be a good time to just stick in a new pump if you are having problems with the pulley?

If anyone can tell me how easy or hard it is to replace the cruise control servo on a Lesabre I'd appreciate it!

GunLvr

Posted: 12/28/2002 2:51:21 PM EDT

[#11]

I've had one vehicle where there is a fan,a fan clutch, a pulley, and then the pump. Several several small bolts held part of it together, and one big one held the rest

Quoted: Better question: Why do you want to replace the water pump pulley?

View Quote

Ditto that. What's wrong with the pulley? I think there may be more to this problem.....

If in fact you are looking at the water pump and the pulley is wobbling, it may be the pump rather than the pulley that's bad. Or did something fall into it while the engine was running???

Posted: 12/28/2002 6:59:11 PM EDT

[#12]

most of the 3800 v6 cars have 4 10mm bolts attatching the pulley to the pump, and i have never seen a pulley go bad, if it looks warped or something, you may need a pump, when the bearings go in that particular pump the shaft will not spin true at all, and you will more likely than not see a lot of wobble wheen the pump starts to go, let me know if ya need help, i do this for a living now

Posted: 12/28/2002 9:18:51 PM EDT

[#13]

Thanks guys, avengeusa has described the problem I am having, must be the pumps shaft and not the pulley. The way the pulley is made you can't see the pumps shaft.

I thought coolant would have leaked out if it was the pumps shaft the way the pulley was wobbling. Thanks everyone, it was interesting reading your comments.

avengeusa can you tell me if it's a simple take off or is there something I should know before I get at it.

GunLvrPHD thanks for the trouble you went through to post that info, I will print it out and use it tomorrow, I really do appreciate it bud.

Posted: 12/28/2002 9:46:40 PM EDT

[#14]

Now it sounds like we're hitting the real problem. Yes, a wobbly or vibrating water pump pulley is caused by bad bearings in the pump itself. I guess the shaft seal hasn't gone yet, but if the bearings are bad, it will probably start leaking soon.

I'd also take a look at your coolant to see if it might have caused the problem. Running pure water could cause corrosion which might lead to bearing failure among other things. It should be 20-50 percent antifreeze, depending on the climate. Check belt tension too - it might have been overtensioned at some point, possibly contributing to the problem.

Posted: 12/29/2002 5:47:07 AM EDT

[#15]

Okay the manual lists two more torque specs:

Coolant pump to block mount: 29 lb feet.
Coolant pump to front cover: 97 lb inches.

GunLvr

Posted: 12/29/2002 6:34:19 AM EDT

[#16]

Thanks GunLvrPHD your info helps a bunch.

Posted: 12/29/2002 10:27:16 AM EDT

[#17]

Is this the GM V6 with the 'integrated internal water pump', or is that another one?

Posted: 12/29/2002 10:57:35 AM EDT

[#18]

Dave_A

I'm going to try and get a picture of the pulley/pump, I can't answer your question.

I just hope the camera's lens doesn't fog over when it get's out side. Check back later thanks

Posted: 12/29/2002 11:03:38 AM EDT

[#19]

Just wondering...

I know some people with 199X Grand Ams, who constantly complain about how much is internal/integrated into the motor (or on what requires removing the motor to service)... IIRC, the LeSabre and Grand Am use the same engines (3.4/3.8)...

I don't know much about them myself, as my experience with GM is in the RWD V8 area (and yes, GM (Cadillac) DOES make a FWD V8, for whatever (absurd) reason)... And I definately have no complaints (apart from the fact that the only RWD V8 GM car I can buy new at this moment is the Vette. Fortunately, my current one is doing just fine...)...

Posted: 12/29/2002 11:29:44 AM EDT

[#20]

The pump/pulley is the part with the rusted cover directly in the center of the photo.

[Img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid44/p7995a01805d405bedabcdf734a128126/fcde66dc.jpg[/img]

Posted: 12/29/2002 12:53:53 PM EDT

[#21]

that is the older setup, but essentially the same from about 1984 ish till at least 1999

Posted: 12/29/2002 5:02:23 PM EDT

[#22]

it is a very simple take off, you need to take the pulley bolts off first, and do not worry about the torque specs when reinstallinf, just get em tight, the olts will come off easier when the belt is still on the vehicle, crackem loose, then remove the belt, then the bolts/pulley, and remove reinstall the waterpump, it is very easy, i do them in about 30 minutes, you need no special tools, and if there is an autozone nearby, get the pumop from them, they sell new, non reman pumps for that engine for about 25 bucks, and comes with the gaskets, use BLACK silicone sealer to seal it up, and you will have zero problems, if you can strip an ar, you can do this with your eyes closed, let me know if you need any help(734) 384-1991

Posted: 12/30/2002 8:34:52 AM EDT

[#23]

I am glad you posted the question, I learned a bit too. Hope my water pump doesn't die but if it does I'll fix it myself.

GunLvr

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Mechanic question, Le Sabre water pump pulley

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