---

BROKEN WATER PUMP HOUSINGS AND SHAFTS COMMONLY CAUSED BY: 1) Excessive vibration & unbalance due to:

Bent, cracked, or broken fan.

Fan not squarely mounted on the shaft.

Cracked or bent pulleys due to improper handling orinstallation.2) Belts too tight:

Over-tightened belts cause overloads on the bearing,greatly reducing its operating life.

They also impose a powerful bending force on the shaft,causing it to deflect substantially from true center rotation. The result is large unbalance and early shaftfracture. 

SEEPAGE FROM THE WEEP HOLE:

People often ask..."why is there a weep hole?" In a horizontal centrigugal pump there is little space between the bearing and the seal so leakage could threaten the bearing. Weep holes help evacuate this coolant to protect the bearing. Weep holes also allow atmospheric pressure into the pumps which help the seals to remain seated.

Water pumps are a mechanical part and will eventually fail. Weep holes will leak a little bit as the seals lap in but pronounced seepage from the weep hole is an indication of seal failure. The life of the seal can be greatly extended by performing regular maintenance on your cooling system.

Periodic inspection of hoses and coolant recovery tank will assure coolant levels are correct and that no atmospheric contaminants that can cause oxidation and sludge build-up are present. Sludge build-up in the cooling systemis a primary cause of seal failure as well as reduced cooling system efficiency.

Water Pump Troubleshooting

Symptom				Probable Cause
Overheating	Leaks at water pump  bolts	Leaks at gasket	Scraping noise when  pump shaft is turned
X				Low coolant level
X				Air pocket in coolant system (1)
X				Faulty fan clutch
X				Inoperative electric coolant fan
X				Restricted exhaust system
X				Retarded spark timing
	X			Bolts go through into cooling system (2)
		X		Mounting surface is not clean
		X		Gasket is misaligned
		X		Pump bolts are not properly tightened
			X	Rust deposits from mounting surface entering  pump
			X	Pump installed without gasket
			X	Excessive side play in pump (3)

(1) Allow engine to cool; restart and run with radiator cap removed and fill as necessary. (2) Apply sealant to threads. (3) Do not overtighten belts & remember to balance the fan Note: A common cause of overheating in cars equipped with electrically operated radiator fans is a malfunction in fan control circuits. This may be a blown fuse, a faulty thermoswitch, etc.  After the FlowKooler pump is installed and the cooling system refilled, run the engine until the coolant reaches the temperature at which the fan should switch on.  If it does not do so, refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for troubleshooting the fan circuit.  For more information on causes of engine overheating see our other tech help pages.