Z32 Waterpump

[brian300zx]

Okay so I just did my timing belt and of course I didn’t replace my water pump.. surprise it just went out. I think I just had to much tension on the belt cause it popped off. Do I really need to take everything off again? Timing belt covers, crank pulley etc? I was doing some research and some people did it without taking off the lower timing cover but didn’t see any clear explanation. Any easy ways to do this will be much appreciated because I do not really want to take everything off again but I know I will probably have to lol

[macgiver]

mac, keep in mind the first time accidentally drop something into lower cover CAN chew things up,second time (unbeknownst to you) accidentally you drop something in there WILL chew thins up - both things really gonna piss u-off ,2nd scenario may do EXPENSIVE/IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE

[amc49]

'Any easy ways to do this...'

Already took the easy way out by not changing water pump, see what happened there............I would be now looking to do it right rather than quick.

You must remove the lower cover to see the crank sprocket and how the belt goes around it correctly.

Once a belt has come off you should be changing it as well, it may now well wander once stretched wonky to come off. May well have torn internal belt threads that hold it together, edge riding a belt often does that. You are begging for further trouble by not changing it.

I for one do not know if the motor is interference type or not, may have bent some valves already when belt came loose.

[brian300zx]

No no my timing belt did not come off may god forbid that ever happens! What happened is the belt for the alternator/water pump came off and when I went to look at it my water pump was leaking

[NolimitZ32]

Lower timing cover must come off to gain access to 2 or 3 of the water pump bolts, you can shave the timing cover in place to get to the bolts but it'll take you 10x longer to do that than actually removing the cover.

[brian300zx]

Yeah I figured gonna start taking her apart today. Ordered a new pump yesterday from Z1 so hopefully by this weekend I get her up and running

[itsa300zx]

Id remove the timing belt so you don't spill coolant all over it when the pump is removed.

[amc49]

I wouldn't, too much work. Simply rinse it off quick with plain water and let sit to dry. It'll be fine.

My bad for the assumption there that the WP was driven by the timing belt, so many are nowadays.

[macgiver]

mac , yeh , amc I read and got "discombobulated" too on the w/pump/v-belt?/Timing belt?/ what came off of what , he sounds like getting a GO now , and getting into it AGAIN (I've been there) ya just do have to take no shortcuts ,take no prisoners, INSPECT EVERYTHING.Good luck

[brian300zx]

Yes definitely not taking the belt off coolant probably got on it already anyways. But car is completely apart now just waiting for the water pump which should be in Friday

[DCaff300ZX]

Okay I didn’t replace my water pump. I think I just had to much tension on the belt cause it popped off.

My Z guy mentioned during my own recent cooling system issue hunt (mine was leaking feed hoses) that the belts for our cars can be cranked too tight for some areas, most notably the waterpump which on occasions can be snapped off as you mention.
He suggests a 3-time recheck and slight tightening of the belts when new until at correct tension, and not cranking them right to a high point figuring they'll release. Check and recheck your feed hoses and clamps as well as anything else you've worked with as you replace the waterpump.

[brian300zx]

I had to use a much shorter bolt for the tensioner because it snapped which is probably why it had too much tension. I went to a junkyard and got the right length one from a j30. Should have probably just ordered it from concept Z cause it ended up being near the same price. But anyways, yes my water pump is literally bent on the front portion.