How do you change the water pump on a 1998 Chevy Venture?

Answer 1

I have changed the water pump on a 1997 Cavalier which I suppose is quite similar to your Venture. Here is my recommendation:

Take it to a mechanic and have them do it, unless you feel up to a few skinned knuckles and few cuts and abrasions. If you still feel like hurting yourself, here is the short version.

Somewhere on the hood or in front of the radiator is a diagram of the routing of the serpentine belt that drives the various equipment attached to the engine, including the alternator, the air conditioning compressor, the water pump and maybe the power steering pump. To remove it, make sure you understand how to put it back on and then find the tensioner pulley. Put a wrench or socket on the nut with a fairly long handle and rotate the nut clockwise. The tensioner pulley should move releasing tension on the belt so it can be removed from around the water pump pulley.

Remove any hoses attached to the water pump if any and catch the coolant. CAUTION: Coolant is poisonous! Do not leave where pets can get to it or where children can reach it.

Find the bolts that attach the pump to the engine block. Usually 4 to six of them and some may be longer than others. Remember what hole what bolt came out of. When all of the bolts are removed, the pump may just fall loose but most likely will have to be pried loose. If it resists prying, check to see that you have ALL of the bolts removed. They are quite clever and are sometimes well hidden. It's a game!

Remove the pulley and install it on the new/rebuilt pump.

Normally some of the original gasket material will be stuck firmly to the engine block. This must be COMPLETELY removed before installing the new pump. Lots of luck!

Make sure both the new pump and the pump location on the engine block are clean and dry.

Apply a light coat of gasket sealer on the flange of the pump where the gasket will sit.

Attach the gasket to the pump and make sure the holes in the gasket line up with the holes in the pump.

Coat the outside of the gasket with another light/thin coat of gasket sealer. Recheck to see that the holes line up.

Place the pump on the engine block and install the bolts. Tighten alternately in a sort of cross pattern until they are all snug, then tighten/torque to factory recommended settings, normally around 10 to 15 foot pounds. Do NOT overtighten or you will crack the casting on the pump and it will be do-overs.

RE-stringing the serpentine belt may take two people. One person will put tension on the tensioner pulley while the other one guides the belt around all of the pulleys. It has to be exactly as the diagram shows or you will not be successful. Lots of luck.

When the belt and pulleys are all where they are supposed to be, release the tensioner pulley which will tighten the belt. If it isn't tight, you missed something.

Reattach any hoses removed, tighten clamps then refill the cooling system.

NOTE: Do NOT run your can in an enclosed space, such as a garage unless the doors are open.

Start the car and check for leaks. Lots of luck.