Water Pump Help

Big_THanks

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Chattanooga
My water pump decided to blow out on the highway last night and now I need a new one..... Long story short I don't have the money to pay to have it done so I will need to do it myself.

I can't seem to find a good walk-through of the job. Any help would be appreciated.

P.S. I plan on changing the timing belt and tensioner while I'm at it and probable the thermostat. Just wanting to know is there anything I should know about doing this job I've never done it before.

The only water pump I've ever changed is on my wife's jeep liberty and it was just unbolting it and putting another on so it is no where near the same process.
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Yeah its behind all the belts so you might as well change it all out... The pump is pretty easy.. I can't remember but Im pretty sure it has a seal with it... bolts all on..
You will need to bleed the system once you button it all back up.. Pretty easy and simple to do. Ill let others chime in
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
The best writeup on the timing belt is over on CX, unless someone here's written another (link). Basically this: Set TDC on 1, remove the radiator, remove hoses, remove the belts, remove the fan/clutch, remove crank pulley, remove outer timing cover, remove cam sprocket bolts, remove timing belt, remove water pump, remove rear timing cover (for access to bypass hose), remove bypass hose. Install is reverse.

Water pump _should_ come with a gasket, but you do apply RTV to the pump housing before attaching the gasket. While you're in there, make certain to get a new bypass hose, as it is a major pain to get at from above, and only a slightly lesser pain from the front. If you haven't already, consider getting a new radiator for a SC Xterra as well; they're at least twice as thick and fit with no issues.
 

Big_THanks

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Chattanooga
Thanks for the input guys but I think I may have gotten a little lucky. I wasn't able to see anything last night when it broke down from it being too dark and the steam shooting out.

After the rain slowed today I went to look things over and it looks like from what I can see that the thermostat has probably stuck and it blew the bypass hose completely into 2 pieces. Now I'm just going to have to figure out how to get that hose off without tearing the entire front of the engine apart.
 

mac11

Bought an X
Location
Nashville
you dont. you tear the front of the engine apart.


and I've just had the front of the engine off to do a timing belt and a new head so i'll edit this list a little to be in the best order.


Set TDC on 1, remove the fan shroud, remove the fan/clutch, remove hoses, remove the radiator, remove the belts, remove crank pulley, remove outer timing cover, remove cam sprocket bolts, remove tensioner, remove timing belt, remove water pump, remove rear timing cover (for access to bypass hose), remove bypass hose. Install is reverse.
 
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Big_THanks

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Chattanooga
you dont. you tear the front of the engine apart.

I feel like there has to be another way to change a simple hose.

It looks like (although not easy at all) if i take the top pulley bracket off I can maybe get to it. I'm willing to have a few busted knuckles not to have to take everything apart.
 

mac11

Bought an X
Location
Nashville
I feel like there has to be another way to change a simple hose.

It looks like (although not easy at all) if i take the top pulley bracket off I can maybe get to it. I'm willing to have a few busted knuckles not to have to take everything apart.


the brackets aren't nearly in the way like the rear timing cover is. thats the real impediment. Its right up against the bypass hose and there's almost no clearance to get to it from the top, front or sides.

But any closet is a walk in closet if you try hard enough. You could probably wrestle it out of there with enough effort. What you have to ask, is all the struggle worth it? Twill probably take about as much time as just pulling the front off.

If you're going to attempt it you'll need some long skinny pliers to get to the bottom clamp. Taking the Upper intake manifold and distributor out might give you some more room to work.

Good luck. Sorry to hear. Makes me realize I need to just replace that hose while my truck is apart, even if it takes a few extra days of downtime to get the hose in.
 
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