Need a reality check please - was chasing what I thought was a bad fan clutch unit. I've pulled the clutch, and it's tight. Pulled the pulley and I'm messing with the pump shaft, and there's detectable play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKN9d5cObdI Is that excessive play? I'm hoping against hope you're all going to come in and tell me that's fine and I don't need to tear down my front end, but I'm ready for the worst... give it to me straight, brothers. New water pump time?

 

Well, hey. I thought the water pump was hiding under the timing chain cover, but apparently not. This might not be as bad as I thought.

Still would love some input on whether this thing is bad or not, though!

 

If it has a lot of play then it won't be long before it needs to be replaced. A new water pump is pretty cheap, maybe 20 or 30 bucks and your already half way there anyway. Do you feel any resistance when you turn it, kind of like it's grinding? If it turns smooth and isn't leaking from the tiny holes then it should be good for a little while.

 

There's no grinding, and no coolant leaking, but it's a fair amount of play, and it rattles when I spin it back and forth.

I think it needs to go.

 

Like Bass said, if there's play it prbly won't be long till starts leaking. For my trucks, as soon as I notice any play it's off to oreillys for a new pump