Water Pump question

[Onefast99gsx]

Well the timing belt is on and the engine is basically ready to drop in. I wanted to ask a question in regards to the water pump. Is hasn't been exposed to antifreeze since about November. If I spin the water pump shaft after it's been sitting several hours or overnight, it will stick. You have to sort of break it loose. Not alot of force to break it free but it is froze in that spot. Is this normal of a water pump that has been sitting dormant for months and not exposed to water. I'm guessing the rubber seal or whatever inside is dry and that's why. Once the system is full of water, it can't dry and won't stick???

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

[JET]

It shouldn't be a problem, coolant lubricates it. How many miles are on it?

[Onefast99gsx]

I would guess about 90k off the top of my head. I didn't replace it because it was absolutely fine prior to taking it apart. No signs of water leakage thru and around the weep hole.

Yes, i probably should have replaced it but I replaced guides & valves that I didn't anticipate on doing as well as numerous other things. So I didn't wanna replace anything that wasn't broken.

Thanks JET.

[tim]

You can get an aftermarket waterpump for cheap and then you wouldnt have to worry about it. With 90k it probably would be worth it.

Just get a quality pump from CarQuest or wherever and you will be just fine. Stay away from the ones with the plastic impellers though.

[Kracka]

Replace it for sure if it has 90k miles on it. I bought my replacement from Autozone for $35 (not even the cheap generic one) and it has a decent warranty.

[Onefast99gsx]

Yes, I guess you're right and i'm sure JET would probably recommend one too at 90k. I noticed Napa has 3 different on their website. Beck Arnley for $95, TFW for $55 and NWP for $61. I've used Beck Arnley products before. Never heard of the latter two. Do you know which of the above brands you got from Autozone? Most of those stores all get from the same vendors. And was yours new or reman?

I only have a Carquest and NAPA in my town. If I call them right away in morning, I can get it in the afternoon same day.

Thanks.

[tim]

I have always had better luck with Carquest parts than Napa but I am sure there is someone out there that would say the opposite.

Like I said though, make sure the one you buy doesnt have a plastic impeller.

[Kracka]

The Autozone one I got is a Duralast which is their house OEM quality brand, Valucraft in their cheap generic brand.

[Onefast99gsx]

Thanks for the info S2, I'll see if I can come up with an excuse to work at one of our other bank branches tomorrow. There's an Autozone near our branch.

[Kracka]

http://autozone.com/N,16300095//shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm

Not sure if that link will work or not, but the Duralast is $53 with no core charge and a LLT warranty, the Valucraft is $55 with a core charge of $15 (1 year warranty), and the Beck Arnley is $98 with a 3 month warranty. The price on the Duralast must have gone up b/c I know I paid $35 last fall.