Waterpump blew @<30k - had to replace fast..
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Waterpump blew @<30k - had to replace fast..
My wife's 2001 A6 2.8q waterpump started leaking really bad while she was on her way to yoga. Luckily she pulled over when the coolant alarm started blinking. With a couple of gallons of water I was able to drive her home and diagnose. I thought it was the lower rad hose, which has given me grief earlier, but no it was the waterpump which I just replaced less than 2 years and <30k miles ago (from Blauparts) when I did the timing belt.
Well, it was sunday and she needed the car back on the road fast so I thought I had to really search around for a new waterpump, but they are everywhere! Autozone has it, Napa has it etc. So I went with NAPA's and they actually had 3 different ones: rebuilt and two new. I got the new Tru-flow for ~$120 and it actually looked much better than the Blauparts one. Steel pulley with relief that will align timing belt much better instead of the straight edge belt ripper blau's pump had. Hopefully it lasts 30-40k till next timing belt replacement...
Well, it was sunday and she needed the car back on the road fast so I thought I had to really search around for a new waterpump, but they are everywhere! Autozone has it, Napa has it etc. So I went with NAPA's and they actually had 3 different ones: rebuilt and two new. I got the new Tru-flow for ~$120 and it actually looked much better than the Blauparts one. Steel pulley with relief that will align timing belt much better instead of the straight edge belt ripper blau's pump had. Hopefully it lasts 30-40k till next timing belt replacement...
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That's the thing exactly, I've done it a few times now and it's pretty fast to swing the front core support our of the way. Then just pull a seat under your butt and start working. Everything is right there - no squeezing to tight spots or anything...
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Faster yes, but better? It takes about 30mins extra (to attach/detach hoses and wires) to "swing the front" and then I can sit down and see everything in front of me. I just "think" I like it better that way.
I have not actually tried working on anything with the front in service position. I tried it with Blauparts TB kit tools when I was doing timing belt and I just didn't like it. So I just took the whole front core support off and been doing that since...
I have not actually tried working on anything with the front in service position. I tried it with Blauparts TB kit tools when I was doing timing belt and I just didn't like it. So I just took the whole front core support off and been doing that since...
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T-rex here ... short arms with big clumsy hands ..I did the gate method too!
but the main reason is my lower back hurts like hell unless I raise the car up and open the gate ..... just getting old I guess. I think when you raise the front end of the car up it helps retain a little bit of the coolant and makes it a little easier to bleed the coolant system via the plug on the top front of the engine. I like being able to sit down at the same level and look straight on at the whole works to make sure everything is lining up just right too. It would probably be less work to do the service position routine ... I guess I just love tearing things apart ..NOT!
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I did it without removing any radiator hose at all. I pulled out the carrier as far as the radiator hoses would allow. This gave me more than enough room to do the necessary work. I could not remove any radiator hose, so to drain the radiator I merely removed the Temperature sensor in the lower hose and that allowed sufficient coolant to drain out to complete the job.