Fan clutch/water pump issues! HeLP! I NEED THE Z FOR SCHOOL!

[jona300zx]

Hello NICO!

so here is the story.... replaced fan clutch and water pump when i did the 120k maintenance last summer. both are aftermarket. a month ago, the Z started making noise and i felt vibration on the shift knob. it was coming from the fan clutch/ water pump. the fan clutch was loose and that wiggling messed up the water pump. so i replaced them again with the same aftermarket parts since they come with lifetime warranty. this week, i am having the same problem!

So what factors could be causing this? my fan has cracks along the base part where it screws on to the clutch. doesnt seem major but could that be causing the issue? could it be that the water pump belt is on too tight and causing too much tension on the water pump thus making it loose?

I NEED HELP!

Once again, Thanks!

JONA

[Ace2cool]

I would only go with OEM for water pumps. That could be your problem. Not entirely sure though. How tight do you have the belt set?

[jona300zx]

i really feel that the fan clutch is causing the issue because i can wiggle it. but yea i understand OEM is always best.

idk how can i measure the tightness?

BTW thanks for always taking the time to respond!

[NolimitZ32]

Tightness is measured by how much flex it has, check the FSM for these numbers.

[es.biggs]

Having the belt too tight is a common way to kill a water pump. I've seen it before.

I just tighten mine a little at a time. I usually leave it towards the loose side, then if I hear it squeal I will tighten a litttttttle bit. I do this until it stops squealing, and bada bing bada boom. Setting the tension right is something you kind of "learn" to feel over time after you do it on a few cars or do it to your car a few times. Maybe try opening the hood of your brother, or mom/dad, friend's etc. car to feel how tight their belts are and try to get it something like that. FSM is of course the best way to go, but there's not much to tensioning a belt, just get it tight enough and don't overtighten it.

BTW - I feel your pain on the water pump...mine went out about a month ago and it was only 5 months old. Aftermarket parts for the loss man. I got mine from Advance originally, but I got my money back and went OEM because it's a real PITA to change.

[jona300zx]

Thanks for the help everyone! It could be that I overtightened the belt. But then I took off the fanclutch the first time it was loose. Could the loose pump cause damage to the clutch or did the clutch damage the pump?

I want to get it right befOre I start taking things apart and spending money. If I don't come up with a definite answer to what the issue is I am willin to take it to a shop.

[es.biggs]

If the clutch was making a noise or if it's loose, replace it. And if the pump is bad, replace that.

Then make sure the belt isn't too tight and you'll be golden man.

I had to replace both about a month ago, my water pump and fan clutch were both making noise, so I replaced the fan clutch to see if that would stop the noise, and it just stopped some of it - the water pump was still bad. Changed that about a week later.

I'm not sure what caused what, but both were definitely bad at about the same time.

[jona300zx]

Yea I will replace both this weekend. Any way I can save the radiator fluid? I know I can drain the one in the radiator but how can I save the one in the motor?

[es.biggs]

I don't really know man...try catching the coolant from the lower hose when you pull it off after you drain the radiator...but the coolant in the motor is gonna get dirty on it's way out. I wouldn't really bother trying to save it.

[jona300zx]

would running the enngine make the fluid in the motor drain out the lower hose???

[bbecker17]

use a shop vac (vacuum) to suck the coolant out of the motor.

[jona300zx]

hmm that could work.............

[isZ]

Usually the fan clutch will be stiff or not spin at all if its bad. Plus it will sound like a helicopter under the hood because the dead fan clutch locks the fan to engine rpm.... not good. The fan flexes at higher than 3000rpm enough to contact nearby surfaces wires etc and put enormous strain on the water pump. I know cause my fan clutch died and did exactly what I just said. Shortly after the fan clutch gave up so did the water pump.

[300ZXttZMAN]

Welcome to NICO! Thanks for sharing your experience.