Ratical2
Enthusiast
Chuck was right! He told me that he is seeing more and more failed water pumps in all of the GEN 2's not just the magic 2002(?) model year.
My car has been running progressively hotter since last year. When it used to keep the needle dead on the center marker of the temp gauge, it now, would stay just right of the right if center hash mark.
I believe this to be cause by a restriction in the radiator. I pulled it, had it inspected and then rebuilt. The original radiator had ~60% blockage at 57K miles.
I got it together but the car still ran hot. I burped the system at least 20 times and that seemed to help but the temp would be directly proportional to the RPMs. On the throttle and up goes the temp, but it wouldn't drop.
I replaced the thermostat with a 180 unit. That lowered the temp at least until I jumped on the throttle. Then I would have thermal runaway on my hands.
So tonight, I pulled the water pump....the impeller spins independently of the drive shaft, Just as CHUCK had suggested. The new pump will be going in the car shortly. I hope that I don't have to do this again any time soon.
Can't wait to get it back together to see how cool she runs.
I also installed Roe High Flow Cats. I have yet to hear what the car sounds like.
For a Recap, If your driving a gen2 and the coolant temperature goes up really quickly after a hard acceleration, but does not come back down fairly quickly, your water pump may be the cause.
My car has been running progressively hotter since last year. When it used to keep the needle dead on the center marker of the temp gauge, it now, would stay just right of the right if center hash mark.
I believe this to be cause by a restriction in the radiator. I pulled it, had it inspected and then rebuilt. The original radiator had ~60% blockage at 57K miles.
I got it together but the car still ran hot. I burped the system at least 20 times and that seemed to help but the temp would be directly proportional to the RPMs. On the throttle and up goes the temp, but it wouldn't drop.
I replaced the thermostat with a 180 unit. That lowered the temp at least until I jumped on the throttle. Then I would have thermal runaway on my hands.
So tonight, I pulled the water pump....the impeller spins independently of the drive shaft, Just as CHUCK had suggested. The new pump will be going in the car shortly. I hope that I don't have to do this again any time soon.
Can't wait to get it back together to see how cool she runs.
I also installed Roe High Flow Cats. I have yet to hear what the car sounds like.
For a Recap, If your driving a gen2 and the coolant temperature goes up really quickly after a hard acceleration, but does not come back down fairly quickly, your water pump may be the cause.
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