'03 water pump replacement
Thread Starter
CF Active Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 208
Likes: 5
From: Arlington, VA
'03 water pump replacement
I used this YouTube link as a How-To.
Additional tips:
- Disconnect the upper radiator hose to facilitate the fan shroud removal. Tie it out of the way with a cord looped around the base of the wiper arm.
- After losing the shroud and pushing it forward place a sheet of cardboard in front of the radiator to protect it while man-handling the shroud out of the engine bay.
I did not have an impact hammer or the special 36mm wrench.
I do have a 16" adjustable wrench that fit behind the fan.
The other special tool from the manual is a pulley strap wrench.
My attempts to secure a pulley strap wrench wore me out
so I squirted PB Blaster at the base of the coupling and let it sit over night.
Next morning I set the adjustable wrench and tap, tap, tapped the handle w/ a hammer to simulate the impact hammer and that loosened the coupling.
I have removed everything down to and including the water pump.
Three of the bolts and the mounting surfaces to the engine have significant corrosion.
I am currently soaking the bolts in vinegar and working with 400 grit emery cloth to polish the surfaces.
I will try a wet soaked vinegar cloth on the engine surfaces next but feel it is slightly pitted.
THE Q:
Do you have an opinion on using a thin coat of Permatex at the mating surface to assure the water pump gaskets seal?
2nd Q:
Given the corrosion on the mating surface, I want to run a radiator cleaner through the engine prior to refilling with coolant.
Are there suggestions on product and/or technique.
Additional tips:
- Disconnect the upper radiator hose to facilitate the fan shroud removal. Tie it out of the way with a cord looped around the base of the wiper arm.
- After losing the shroud and pushing it forward place a sheet of cardboard in front of the radiator to protect it while man-handling the shroud out of the engine bay.
I did not have an impact hammer or the special 36mm wrench.
I do have a 16" adjustable wrench that fit behind the fan.
The other special tool from the manual is a pulley strap wrench.
My attempts to secure a pulley strap wrench wore me out
so I squirted PB Blaster at the base of the coupling and let it sit over night.
Next morning I set the adjustable wrench and tap, tap, tapped the handle w/ a hammer to simulate the impact hammer and that loosened the coupling.
I have removed everything down to and including the water pump.
Three of the bolts and the mounting surfaces to the engine have significant corrosion.
I am currently soaking the bolts in vinegar and working with 400 grit emery cloth to polish the surfaces.
I will try a wet soaked vinegar cloth on the engine surfaces next but feel it is slightly pitted.
THE Q:
Do you have an opinion on using a thin coat of Permatex at the mating surface to assure the water pump gaskets seal?
2nd Q:
Given the corrosion on the mating surface, I want to run a radiator cleaner through the engine prior to refilling with coolant.
Are there suggestions on product and/or technique.
Last edited by tbb2; Apr 10, 2026 at 2:32 PM. Reason: format for better readability, add tips, add Q
Thread Starter
CF Active Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 208
Likes: 5
From: Arlington, VA
'03 water pump replacement - parts?
And so it begins ...
Water pump replacement.
The numbers cast into and etched into the removed water pump do not match anything for sale.
The numbers do not match dealer numbers, ACDelco #s and oemcats.com/ does not recognize them at all.
O'Reilly shows some filters that limit options by hub and impeller size. Am I at the point of breaking down the pump and possibly rebuilding it?
Parts listed 'LOOK' like the pump I have in hand and many sites provide a pump that 'matches' my vehicle.
After the exercise I went through replacing the IAC, that by all accounts did not exist, I'm dubious of parts that are suppose to fit.
Suggestions?
Water pump replacement.
The numbers cast into and etched into the removed water pump do not match anything for sale.
The numbers do not match dealer numbers, ACDelco #s and oemcats.com/ does not recognize them at all.
O'Reilly shows some filters that limit options by hub and impeller size. Am I at the point of breaking down the pump and possibly rebuilding it?
Parts listed 'LOOK' like the pump I have in hand and many sites provide a pump that 'matches' my vehicle.
After the exercise I went through replacing the IAC, that by all accounts did not exist, I'm dubious of parts that are suppose to fit.
Suggestions?
Last edited by tbb2; Apr 14, 2026 at 11:56 AM. Reason: more info
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