1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I have this problem, just picked up parts this AM to fix it.
I have a small leak that started a week ago. Loosing about 1 tablespoon of coolant per night from the right hand side of the engine.
The water pump couples to the block via an aluminum adaper sleeve which the fits into the block and coolant pump with an o-ring at each end. I assume that the sleeve is then essentially floating. If you look down in there with a flashlight. You can see where this goes into the block, and just see the top of it. I can see some wetness on the block just below this point, and some interesting stains below that point from under the car. Sometimes I have thought that I could smell antifreeze while underway. This could be from coolant on the hot engine block.
Brad at KC Saab states that these o-rings seem to only leak at certain temperatures and pressures. So they don't leak when you look at them. So the o-rings move with pressure and the aluminum pump expands and moves. The o-rings probably have taken a set and are heat hardened as well.
I will try to remove and replace the pump to renew these o-ring this weekend. There are three o-rings at the pump, and one small 180 adaper hose that goes from one of the hard pipes into the pump. Another hard pipe had the small 3rd o-ring to the pump.
The powersteering pump needs to be unbolted and move to the side to do the work. The powersteering hoses do not need to be opened up. But I may renew the PS fluid if time allows, but that is not neccessary or routinely done.
My pump was replaced in 1998, so I will not be replacing it. If it was really old I would replace it as long as it is being R&R'd. If the coolant was leaking at the bearings and seals, I don't think that it would run uphill to the block, but could it be blowing up there? I will find out this weekend. I should be able to determine that before removing hoses etc. If it is not as I expect I will abort the work and go for a new pump next weekend. I could not get a 9-3 style lower hose that will allow fitting of the Viggen IC, so I will stay with the original hose and hope that is comes off non destructively.
I also got new heater hoses for behind the head, and a new thermostat. I will be doing a flush and fill, using Saab branded coolant at $8.00/gal or? 4 liters.
So more news after the weekend.
Trying to save money on vehicle maintenace, especially with the Sprint layoff news hanging over our heads.
Anyone R&R a water pump before? Any advice?
The service advisor stated that standard hours for the pump R&R are 1.5 which would be about $200 in labour. So it should take me about 5 hours I guess :)
I drove Brad's 1999 9-3 project car. Water injection, modified controls and increased fuel delivery. Very interesting machine. Not a fully modified vehicle. I did not get it to an expressway to see what 3rd gear was like. Second get got the Nitto 450's singing and ringing. They are very noisy tires. I tried one insane cornering and I cringed with the tire noise. My syspension with the Pilot sports would have been quiet on that turn. It turns out that the 9-3 has totally stock suspension.
posted by 207.43.19...
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