Water pump death!

[kouki-gymkhana]

So I replaced my water pump with a brand new one before I dropped in the RB25 less than 75 miles ago. Yesterday while driving around the engine started to make a rev-dependent whirring noise. Today I whipped out my stethoscope and localized the problem to the water pump, probably the bearings! WTF? How could my BRAND NEW water pump have given up the ghost so soon? I don't quite see how one could install it improperly. I'm really bummed out about this because it looks like it's going to be really difficult to change it out for a new one with the motor in the car. Any ideas on what might have caused this early failure?

[dekand]

that sucks man... but it wouldn't be that hard if you took out the radiator/ac condensor (if you have it)

[HotWIRED]

Check your belts. If they're on to tight they can cause bearings to prematurely wear out.

[kouki-gymkhana]

Belt tension was up to FSM specs. The only thing that I can think of is that maybe the wiring guy started the engine and ran it without coolant for a long while when I wasn't around. If that's the case then he and I need to have a little conversation...Does anyone know if Courtesy Nissan warrantees their RB waterpumps? I mean, this is clearly a premature failure given the fact that the belt was tightened appropriately.

[dekand]

my friend ran his without coolant while getting everything running and his went out on him... so that could be the case.

[240sxed]

Any word on this ? Im getting a sound I think is coming from my waterpump and I pray its not it. I ALSO replaced mine, I thought my belt tension may have been too tight after about 1 1/2- 2 months of drving...

[kouki-gymkhana]

UPDATE: I'm a dumbass! The pulley on the water pump wasn't fully fastened on and the rev-dependent whirring I was hearing was actually the pulley slightly wobbling back and forth on the shaft. After tightening a couple of nuts on the face of the pulley things are good as new again! Whew, thank goodness!

[Sky240PWR]

hey man, I didn't want to but in on your thread but now that you've found out what your problem was i guess it can't hurt to ask, Do you have a pic of your radiator and flex fans installed in your car? I have a 91 hatch back with a Koyo radiator and I was wanting to get the Flex twin fans but i wanted to see how it looked first, and i also have the Mckinney set up. any help??....thanks!

[kouki-gymkhana]

I have the stock s13 radiator with my fans and it BARELY fits. I've also notched the top radiator mounting points and angled the radiator a bit forward to give me a few extra mm of clearance between the fan heat shield and the crank pulley. I really only have less about 1/8" clearance. I don't think it will be possible to mount the fans as pullers if you're using a Koyo with McKinney mounts. I'm sure someone will chime in and prove me wrong though...