Noisy Water Pump

[RichardR]

Since I've had the S, it's been blessed with a noisy water pump, which seems to be worse when the weather's wet for some reason.

I've found that a generous spray of WD40 onto the shaft (using the extenion pipe thing on the can) silences it for a while, but the effect is fairly short lived.

I was wondering whether any one knows of a more effective cure for the problem/symptom (that doesn't involve replacing the water pump)?

Cheers,

Richard

[Rower]

I would say replace the pump now before it lets you down , water pumps are not a maintainble itom.

[s3davep]

Are you sure its not a worn fan belt making a noise, if the pump is making a noise its not usually long before it fails and dumps all the coolant.
Thats what mine did within a couple of weeks from hearing the noise.

Cheers

Dave

[RichardR]

Cheers for the replies guys.

Ultimately I will aim to replace the water pump, but I've just had a fairly big chunk of S3-related expenditure (maybe not be TVR standards, but definitely by mine ), so it's going to have to wait a bit longer.

It's been like this ever since I bought the car (not when I test drove it of course! ) which was just under a year ago, although it was supposed to be a fairly new pump, and does look it.

During warm weather it doesn't really make a noise, but in the wet it gets pretty loud, and I'm 99% certain that it's the pump as the WD40 shuts it right up. What I was really hoping for I guess was an alternative to WD40 that could be easily applied and might be slightly longer lasting.

[Rower]

I think that there might be something that you can add to the water that might solve it short term try Helfords.

[s3davep]

Spray your WD40 on the engine crank pulley then you will know if its the belt or the pump. If it goes quite then no WD can be in the pump so its the belt.
I have found if the belt sits too low in the pulley groves when its worn its make a horrible racket.

Dave

[crossle]

Do you want my noisy alternator to go with your noisy pump?
I'm going to replace both, as I've got nothing better to do this weekend....

[RichardR]

crossle said:

Do you want my noisy alternator to go with your noisy pump? I'm going to replace both, as I've got nothing better to do this weekend....

When you say you're going to replace both, do you mean your alternator and my water pump? If so, I'll remember to leave my garage unlocked!

Are you replacing your water pump because it's also knackered, or is it just a "while you're down there" type scenario?

[dern]

RichardR said:

Ultimately I will aim to replace the water pump, but I've just had a fairly big chunk of S3-related expenditure (maybe not be TVR standards, but definitely by mine ), so it's going to have to wait a bit longer.

The pump is about 30 quid from a motor factors and pretty easy to change assuming the previous owner torqued the nuts up correctly and didn't just whack them up to two grunts and an unggh. You'll probably want a new thermostat in while you're draining the coolant which will be a couple of quid and the coolant will be a fiver or thereabouts. 50 quid tops and a couple of hours (*). Note, please torque the bolts correctly for your own good and the good of the next owner.

In the mean time, while you're spraying the shaft of the water pump with wd40 (note that by using this stuff you will probably be washing the grease out of the bearing and bringing a sudden failure closer imo) spray the bolts too so they will hopefully be easier to remove.

Mark

(*) Note, if you snap a bolt in the head you'll be inconvenienced for longer. I snapped one of them but managed to get the stud out with penetrating fluid and mole-grips.

[RichardR]

I must admit, I hadn't checked the price; I just assumed 'expensive'. £30 + bits and bobs is pretty reasonable.

I think this'll definitely go on the short term 'to do' list. In the mean time I'll see if I can get any sort of slightly thicker lubricant onto the shaft (fnarr).

[RichardR]

s3davep said:

Spray your WD40 on the engine crank pulley then you will know if its the belt or the pump. If it goes quite then no WD can be in the pump so its the belt. I have found if the belt sits too low in the pulley groves when its worn its make a horrible racket. Dave

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about the possibility of it being the belt, but I thought I might as well rule that out, so this morning I sprayed a bit of WD40 directly onto the belt, just after the alternator (i.e. nowhere near the water pump shaft) and the noise stopped immediately!

All I can say is "Thanks Dave" - the cost of a new fan belt, not to mention the ease of fitting, is far preferable to that of a new water pump, and I would never have thought of it being the belt, especially as I would have renewed that belt at the same time as the pump so would obviously have concluded that the new pump did the trick!