Hey so I've got a 2003 s type r that finally needs a new water pump. I've looked on ebay because that's where I get all my parts and found that they are surprisingly reasonably priced from 30 to 60 bucks. Curious if anyone has had surprisingly good or bad luck with any specific brand and also if anyone has any tips or tricks or anything helpful before I start. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you in advance

 

Not really. As you know the water pump rarely needs replaced so we don't have a lot of history to go on.

Is yours leaking?
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Yes and it has a horrible screeching sound on start up and just last night I reached down and wiggled it back and forth and I could hear a click when moving it.

 

How many miles on the car?

Has the coolant been changed ever?
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Coolant has been changed out quite a bit because it's been leaking for quite awhile. I've had trouble with 3 of the coolant hoses developing leaks right where it contacts the metal so it has leaked alot and been refilled alot and the coolant has always been clean but it's never had a complete fluid swap out no. Car has 136k

 

The water pump on this model is fairly inexpensive. You should change all of those hoses and be thankful that you haven't ruined the engine by now messing around with leaking hoses.


Change the water pump and those hoses and get over with it.

 

Well, I replaced mine myself, but my engine is a 3.0

I bought mine from RockAuto.com, for $37.00 US

It was the half with the impeller and shaft, and it came with a gasket, the original half ( pump housing, or volute) I re used.

The pump's make is an Airtek, allegedly they are the OEM maker for Ford water pumps...

I did it in September, and after approximately 1,000 miles, so far so good.

I also replaced the thermostat with new o ring, and replaced the drive belt, too. I also filled up with Zerex G-05 coolant.

Tips/Tricks: Be careful with the plastic overflow coolant tank. Also when bleeding air out of it, only open the bleed screw a 1/4 turn, and when closing it don't over tighten it, just snug it up.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

Ya I imagine the 3.0 leaves a bit more room than my supercharged 4.2. Pretty easy to tell that they didn't originally plan on the engine going in that car but thank you for the help jimmy. And Tony I see you also have a 3.0 and I don't know if you've ever even looked at the engine of the r but it has 2 water to air intercoolers sitting on top along with some extra radiators up front that makes it a plumbers nightmare. I don't have just like 4 or 5 or even 7 or 8 coolant tubes. I imaging the whole system probably has 15+ not to mention one that goes under the supercharger that requires removal of the supercharger to even see.

 

Yes I have worked on the supercharged model. Won't buy them anymore for the lot at any price. Don't complain because you chose to buy one. They are well known to be problematic and difficult to service.

 

Who's complaining? I love the car. I don't have problems with the hoses anymore. I have a very soon to be worn out water pump and I'm asking if anyone has any advice on tips or tricks to make it easier or certain brands to stay away from. A response like
"Tips/Tricks: Be careful with the plastic overflow coolant tank. Also when bleeding air out of it, only open the bleed screw a 1/4 turn, and when closing it don't over tighten it, just snug it up."
Is helpful. Stuff like
"The water pump on this model is fairly inexpensive. You should change all of those hoses and be thankful that you haven't ruined the engine by now messing around with leaking hoses.
Change the water pump and those hoses and get over with"
and
"*Won't buy them anymore for the lot at any price. Don't complain because you chose to buy one. They are well known to be problematic and difficult to service"
is not helpful or constructive. I said to begin with that they were cheap and listed prices and said that I had had problems with 3 hoses and that the water pump was now the problem. Come to think of it you haven't said anything helpful at all. Why did you respond in the first place?

 

There are no "tricks" or "tips" to changing a water pump on this model. The myriad of hoses under the hood is definitely not fun. My guess is that you'll spend all day on the water pump which is why I won't buy them anymore for resale. While they are an interesting vehicle, impossible to resell and make money unless you pass problems through, which I do not do.


At the dealer auction here in Birmingham Alabama, you can see these from time to time selling in the $3,500 range. That's how bad of a reputation they have with the dealer community.


As far as the supercharged model, too many problems.

 

I have a 2005 STR and it's the best car I have ever had and now it's at 107K miles. I exploit a very inefficent market in these cars a have a 400HP bargain!

My biggest suggestion is to bunch your work.

So if your are planning to change the water pump. Get all the coolant hoses since a lot of them need to come off anyway. Also consider the top tank but that is easy to change so maybe not a priority. Also consider the DCCV. If it's not been changed it will need to be at some time. For sure do the thermostat too. And I like to do multiple coolant flushes before taking the car apart so you can have nice clean coolant when you are done.

The hose clamps can be a SOB so be sure and have a set of cable pliers to get to them remotely.

The odd thing is I have changed almost every hose on the car so far (Except the dreaded under super charger hose) but NOT the water pump. That's why I asked you why. Just don't see many go out on the STR's.
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Don't forget to install new timing chains, guides and tensioners while you're that far in, as well.

 

On an STR? Can't see that's justified.

 

No. That was only for the 4.0L V-8.

That's the main reason I tell people to get the 4.2L. It's a very solid motor with the bugs worked out of it. SC or NA they are both very good.
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JUST replace as many if not all that you can and the reserve tank pretty inexpensive... .....and FYI there are not any dealers that will take any late model jags especially an S type and try to find even one that knows what an S type R is... jags like other cars are expensive to fix... if you can do most things yourself the STR is a freaking awesome car to have.. ive had two

 

At the dealer's auction, they're right up there (or down there) with the Cadillac Northstar. Can't sell them.

 

Ya I inspected the chains and guides and everything and to my surprise actually they looked pretty Damn close to perfect. Checked them when I replaced the valve cover gaskets. As far as taking it to someplace.... I've had very bad luck with pretty much every car I've taken to a shop. They tend to either make the problem worse, Fix the problem but in the process cause a bigger problem, or just lead me in the completely wrong direction. The only shop I've ever taken the jag to charged me for a full extra hour while I sat there and waited for their mechanic to get back from break. Thanks tbird (and everyone else who has had something constructive to say) I Havnt looked at how easy it is to obtain all the hoses or how much they are and I'm obviously familiar with the thermostat and stuff but not real familiar with the dccv. If you don't mind of course what does it do and where is it and what signs are there (if any) if/when it needs replaced? Havnt looked for this online yet (just like the dccv) so I might get some crap for it but any suggestions on a place to get all the coolant tubes. Up to this point (since the breaks have been within an inch of the end of the tube) I have just cut the damaged part off and still had plenty to still hook it up where ever needed. Replacing them all would be very nice tho. And i am pretty positive it's the pump. The leaks on the car are comming off the front of the engine right behind the oil filter. No signs of anything up top and I managed to fit my camera down there in front of the pump recording and saw orange residue on all sides of the pump. All that along with the screeching noise and feeling and hearing the pulley move back and forth some I'm pretty sure

 

See below. Also, use Search.

 

Ahhhh got it. Thank you. And ya I replaced that already. Kinda a pain to get to but it seems like everything on this car is. I always tend to get the biggest engine I can in the cars I get. Which is fine till I try to get my hands around it.