Water Pump replacement difficulties

[JFP in PA]

Excuse me? The thermostat housing is out in the open from underneath the car (red arrow in photo), are you sure you are removing the correct housing?




I've changed a bunch of these and it is a 5 min. job............

[Frodo]

Yeah, I remember thinking one (maybe two?) of the bolts were a bit tough to get to (especially the one in JFP's photo, above). Don't remember details of how I did it, but all I can say is this: Be sure you have good lighting and good access (make sure the car is high up enough to be able to readily move around under there---be safe though!). Once I had that, I just approached things from different angles and with different extensions on the wrench---eventually you find the combination that works.

I also remember thinking, as I put the new one on, why was I having so much trouble accessing the original to get it off?? It's very do-able.