Radiator lessons- water pump question

[Qgrappler]

Lessons from radiator job

1. Don't remove the two sheet metal screws which hold the plastic shround to the radiator until after you have unclipped all the ATF hoses. Once the shroud is loose, it is difficult to pull the hoses out of their clips

2. Be careful not to lose the rubber cushions which the bottom "alignment pins" of the radiator sit in. I didnt look carefully at mine when I took it out and wondered what the matter was when the clamps were 1/2 inch too high over the upper pins of the new one. After realizing that they were still ltuck on the pins of the old radiator, I removed them, put them where they belonged and everything fit perfectly.

3. The clips that hold the radiator and atf hoses have a little washer at the end of the screw which is not secured on the screw and will fall out and hide on the floor if you allow it to. They are not easy to find if this happens.

Question about water pump.

The pump has a small hole in it which looks as though it was intended for bearing lubrication. Anyone know if this is so and how often to oil it if that is the purpose?? Havent seen anything about it in the service manual.

[Q45tech]

The hole is the drain to let you know when the lubed seals are failing on the shaft......dribble leak here is time to change!

[landtodd]

Even American cars had the water-pump hole for detecting an impending failure, and I'm thinking back to cars of the '60s. If you have never stumbled across that, it's good to know about!