Hello everyone! This issue started a couple years or so ago now. In the very beginning, the water pump started squeaking. I tightened the belt up and it went away for a little bit, then the noise returned. We let it go for a bit and didn't look into it right away. Shortly after, the pump nearly fell off when the bearing finally went. I got a reman replacement from, I think from World Pac. That lasted a few months until the symptoms returned.

I looked into it more this time, since the pump was relatively new. Well, the noise went away entirely running the engine with just that belt removed, which means it was either the water pump or the alternator. Spinning the pulleys by hand, the water pump was the one making noise. So, I got another one under warranty, and installed a new belt, too. Again, it was fixed for another few months...

This time, I thought for sure it was the alternator. I listened to both accessories with a stethoscope and tried this and that. When spinning the pulleys by hand the water pump did make noise, but I thought it just couldn't be it again, and I was hearing a little noise from the alternator as well. Frustrated, and fairly confident I had finally found the culprit, I put on a new alternator.

The noise was gone for a week or so and came right back. I tightened the belt so darn tight it's almost as tight as it can be. The squeaking is quieter, but still there. It's got to be the water pump... AGAIN! Are these reman water pumps just absolute crap or what?

 

No idea up there.

Mine is a reman unit, 3 years, 60k kms, quiet as.

My experience with water pump failures/noise, is generally a "rumble" more that a squeal.

My suspicions, reading your tale very carefully, is the front harmonic balancer rubber is beginning to delaminate, which at the age, is now getting common. Try the paint stripe across the 2 pulleys. Load the system, as in a/con on, lights on, etc. Run it for a while, vary the revs, get that noise to happen. Shut it down, check the alignment of the stripe. If it is no longer aligned, there is your squeal.

 

its so easy to repair, refurbish water pumps, all you need is to get the bearing and the mechanical water seal, plus bring to machine shop to have it press out old bearing and in with the new one, but before doing so you need to make sure you have the measurement of the distance between the pulley and the pump (alignment). The culprit is usually the mechanical seal which breaks and allows water to leak thru the bearing. total cost $60

 

sounds like either you had bad luck with the reman pump or maybe it could be that you are tightening the belt way too much and causing too much stress on the bearing

 

I'll go with Grant on this one. Here's my story.....shortened.


Loud squeel on each morning start-up. Discovered water pump leaking and coolant migrating onto drive belt a few drips at a time. Easy diagnosis, easy fix, I thought.

The existing pump was a rebuilt that I installed about 3 years prior. Since my luck with rebuilt parts is 50-50 at best, and looking to improve my odds, I looked for a new water pump. A genuine Jaguar pump is several hundred dollars. Can't do that. Found an aftermarket new pump for about $160.

Install new pump. It was mis-manufactured. The impellor was incorrectly installed and fouled the rear water pump housing. So much for improvng my odds, eh?

Install second (warranty replacement) water pump. It works fine but original noise remains.

Drat!

Blah, blah.....

Cutting to the chase it turned out the balancer was delaminating.

Removed balancer, sent it out for repair ($110) and all's well.


Cheers
DD