How do you replace the water pump on a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP?

Answer 1

Buy yourself a Hayne's or Chilton's repair manual at any auto parts store.

AnswerChilton manuals are skimpy on details and do not aid getting any real work done on these cars (there is not supercharger documentation). IMHO There is a set of three large books by Helm Publications which detail (and I mean detail) everything about your Grand Prix. These are the same manuals used by your Pontiac service department when you get your vehicle serviced, and are the official GM repair and maintenance manuals. Helm can be reached at 1-800-782-4356.

As for the water pump replacement:

In case anyone has to do this and is worried it might be too difficult. It isn't. Some early signs of a failing pump would be a high pitch whine directly related to rpms and/or a very slow coolant leak from the weep holes on the pump shaft.

If you can install a thermostat then you could do this.

"WP replacement mini-writeup"

• 1. Empy Coolant from Radiator drain
• 2. Remove SC and Acc. belts
• 3. Remove the coolant reservoir tank
• 3. Remove the Idler pulley with a 15mm
• 4. Remove the 4 WP pulley bolts with a 8mm
• 5. Remove the 2 Power Steering Pump bolts with a 13mm(bolts are at 12:00 and 6:00 accessable through the PS pulley holes)
• 6. Push PS pump 1 inch to the side
• 7. Remove all 8 WP bolts with a 13mm and a 10mm(3 are 13mm/5 are 10mm)
• 8. Collect extra coolant until flow stops(a few cups)
• 9. Apply RTV to both sides of the gasket and WP bolts
• 10. WP bolts should be torqued to 11lbs+80*/Idler pulley bolt at 36lbs/WP pulley bolts at ~9lbs
• 11. Reinstall everything and fill the coolant back up
• 12. Run for a few minutes, check for leaks, and bleed the system

(courtesy of http://www.grandprix.net/)

Hope this helps.

G

Just replaced my pump on 2000 grand prix 3.8L Non-Supercharged. The above has basic info I followed but a few changes/suggestions:

1. I found the easiest way to drain coolant was to pull lower radiator hose off of radiator (pass. side bottom of radiator).

2. Scrape any old gasket/sealer off of engine block (I used puttey knife) before bolting on new water pump.

3. I checked All-Data at library and it listed the following torque reccomendations:

The power steering bolts should go back on at 25 lbs.

The water pump bolts should be 11 lbs + 80 degrees for the short bolts and 15 lbs + 40 degrees for the longer bolts.

The drive belt tensioner pulley was listed at 115 inches but I just tightened until it moved downward like it was done to remove drive belt.

4. This is a good time to check power steering fluid level and top off if necessary. Do so before you put drive belt tensioner pulley back on. If cap is loose when you move PS pump over to get water pump bolts off fluid can leak out.

5. For those who don't know how to bleed coolant system, You Tube has some videos. Easiest way for me was to just run it for 30 minutes with radiator cap off and just added coolant when level in radiator dropped. I then let engine cool, put radiator cap on and put coolant in reservoir and ran car until it was hot again (per temp guage). I let engine cool, checked level in reservoir (adjust if necessary) then repeat procedure again.

One last item...it can be dificult to get power steering pump assemply back on. You cannot see bolt holes so it takes a little patience. Feel for top hole with finger and you will have some idea where to line up pump. I used my left hand to hold pump by gripping down fire wall side and under pump and I used my right hand to hand start the top bolt to avoid cross-threading. It was a pain and took a little while but it finally got lined up. Bottom bolt then lined up right away.