Water Pump Failure Process

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Grim1ock77

I replaced mine with a Beck Arnley 131-2307 Water Pump which came with a metal impeller as opposed to the oem's plastic, I am hoping that if nothing else, the fins won't break off and cause more damage.

When the bearings start to wear, and shaft begins to wobble (as all water pump shafts do over time), those metal impeller blades can make contact with the engine case and do some damage.

[944boy]

Mine just failed catastrophically. When I left the garage no noise, no drips on the floor, no smell. The pump had been replaced 1.5 years ago and the coolant level had not moved more than an ounce or two since then. The old pump was flawless and spun smooth and all that. All of a sudden near Sonoma the 308 that was behind me started to hang back a ways. A mile or so later along with clouds of steam the low coolant light came on and 5 gallons of coolant was on the road in minutes. I have yet to pull it apart again, but I can see where the pulley has hit the pump and any water that goes into the car comes strait back out.

The first time the Boxster has seen a flatbed....

-Greg