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Old 11-04-2010, 07:15 AM   #8
Bladecutter
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 229
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmatta
Quite a sight...I assume the plastic impeller on the pumps was another cost saving measure?
Actually, I believe the plastic impellers on the pump was a design to prevent the impeller from being affected by the corrosive effects of long life coolant left in for a long time in the engine.

They didn't count on the plastic becoming brittle over time, and eventually just shattering, nor did they count on the constant troubles the pumps seem to have with the seals in the bearing leaking coolant into the bearing, which washes away the grease, that then leads to bearing failure, which then leads to the pump wobbling, which leads to a destroyed impeller, and then the whole shaft pulls out of the water pump body.

Don't ask me how I know this, because it just happened to my car a couple months ago. Went from working perfectly on a Holiday afternoon drive in the Colorado mountains, to the low coolant light flashing, to the pump impeller and bearings exploding, and the serpentine belt being ripped off of its track, and getting wound around the crankshaft pulley.

Hey!
Why does this mode of failure sound eerily familiar?
Where have I heard of this description before...

BC.
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