I think I need a water pump...

[FormulaReed]

Hi all,

I think that the water pump is failing in my car but I thought I would post my symptoms before I start tearing things apart.

My car is a 1997 boxster and it runs great, but if I get stuck in traffic once the car is warmed up she runs a bit hot. The gauge reads at the top end of the 0 in 180. Once I can get moving it cools right down and is back in the 8 of 180 and stays there. If I blast the heater it cools down as well.

I cleaned an amazing amount of junk out of the radiators and that made it better but I still think it's running too hot. I am not loosing any coolant and I don't have any intermix. I have done a recent oil change.

I get the feeling that the pump is on it's way out. I have heard that people have had the vanes break on the pump, is there any way to check with out removing the pump? Does this sound like a failing pump? I was also thinking that the thermostat could be stuck.

Thanks,

Reed