Water Pump or Fan Clutch

[chipper]

Alight boys, I have searched through the treads, hoping for find a good answer.

The noise from the engine area is embarrassing. My mechanic tells me it's the water pump due to the amount of play in it. When I first start up my 02' Trailblazer, it sound like birds are doing the dirty and getting really into it. However, when I spray the belt with a small amount of WD-40, it goes away for about 5 minutes but does come back.

I have ordered a new water pump that my mechanic is going to install as well as a nice new belt? Is the fan clutch part of the water pump in anyway shape or form, or is it a seperate part that I need to change out?

Thanks guys,

Rock on

P.S. I will be buying a Haynes manual very shortly.

[Menthol]

The fan clutch is seperate part, when the fan clutch goes bad it roars on takeoff. (a loud whoosing sound). It sound like the belt is slipping.

[chipper]

I will see how to better describe sound.

When egine is idle after setting a couple hours. It makes the random "bird chirp" type sounds. After the engine revs above 2300 rpm's. The sound seems to go away if I can hold it there, but obviously I don't. The noise does get louder however, until I reach 2300 rpm's.
Tomorrow, I'm having the water pump and belt replaced, so I assume if it is still making the sound, it should be fan clutch....

Thanks for the help. The wisdom is appreciated.

[rrmccabe]

I will see how to better describe sound.

When egine is idle after setting a couple hours. It makes the random "bird chirp" type sounds. After the engine revs above 2300 rpm's. The sound seems to go away if I can hold it there, but obviously I don't. The noise does get louder however, until I reach 2300 rpm's.
Tomorrow, I'm having the water pump and belt replaced, so I assume if it is still making the sound, it should be fan clutch....

Thanks for the help. The wisdom is appreciated.

Sounds like a plan. The chirp sounds just like a belt (the WD40 wont do it any favors). But your mechanic must think you need a water pump too.

I would not worry about fan clutch at this point.

[chipper]

The chirp may have not done the belt any favors, but the belt looks to be in great condition, but I'm just having them change it while the water pump is being done.

The WD40 however, does do me a favor, I am able to drive it without trying to hide at the same time....haha:)

[rrmccabe]

The chirp may have not done the belt any favors, but the belt looks to be in great condition, but I'm just having them change it while the water pump is being done.

The WD40 however, does do me a favor, I am able to drive it without trying to hide at the same time....haha:)

Haha, I know what you mean on hide. I have had several belts chirp even when they look perfect. Once they start its hard to get them to stop even with belt dressing. Your best bet is a new high quality belt.

So usually the chirp/squeal is unrelated to appearance. I have even flipped them over and had them stop !

[chipper]

Well, I guess my last question is? Is the water pump supposed to have some play in it? If I don't need to get it replaced I won't. At the moment the pump moves about 1-inch in either direction when you grab and try to move it.

-Chipper

[TrailBlazer LS]

Well, I guess my last question is? Is the water pump supposed to have some play in it? If I don't need to get it replaced I won't. At the moment the pump moves about 1-inch in either direction when you grab and try to move it.

-Chipper

Your water pump should not move at all. Get it replaced ASAP!!!!

[chipper]

That is what I thought, thanks guys. It scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning, for now, driving the wife mobile. :(

[Envoy Fan]

Don't know what your money situation is right after Christmas, but I would consider replacing the fan clutch also. It has to come off to get to the water pump, so extra cost should just be the part. The fan clutch fails much more often on the TV's than the water pump. Just a thought.

[madfx86]

Don't want to start a new thread because this goes along with the topic, about how many miles should the belts be replaced for preventative maintainence. I'm right below 60K and if it needs to be done I'd like to go ahead and knock it out.

[chipper]

My ride is at about 56k. My belt looks to be in good shape, but if you are going to replace it yourself, I would. Cheap thing to do and can save a lot of troubles down the road, I replace mine every 30k.

[madfx86]

Thanks, yeah I know its an easy step to keep everything running well. I'll probably do it this weekend.

[rich]

I am having a problem with fan clutch The roaring noise described. I have an envoy L6 30 k, dealer says $800 new clutch and needs to be reprogrammed. Why the reprogramming? Is it possible this is just a wiring problem? Does anyone have a diagram of the fan clutch circuit? It would seem simple to check out with VOM if you knew what was what. Looks like quite a job, it would really suck being me, if the clutch wasn't the problem.



Rich

[n0kfb]

The water pump moves an inch when you move it? Something's not right here; an inch is a heck of a lot of play! If there was that much play in the water pump, it would be leaking coolant out faster than you could pour it in.

If WD-40 applied to the belt silences the noise, I'd be inclined to replace the belt. While the belt was off, I'd take a good close look at the water pump and fan clutch. If they did have significant play in them I would replace them. If not, and there were no other signs of failure (leaking water or oil), I'd leave well enough alone.

If the noise persisted, I'd adjust or replace the belt tensioner.

BTW, It is not good to get WD-40 (or other oil-based lubricant) on rubber. It tends to cause the rubber to quickly deterorate. In the future use silicone lube. If you don't have any silicone lube, plain water will work fine for the sort of test that you are performing, and neither will damage rubber.

-- Dan Meyer :)

[n0kfb]

"dealer says $800 new clutch and needs to be reprogrammed."

$800!?! The fan clutch at GMPartsDirect.com are only $185, and AllData.com shows about 3 hours labor for the job. Figure $300 for labor and shop supplies, and $200 for parts. Don't let the bastards at your dealer take you for a ride.

-- Dan Meyer :)

[rrmccabe]

Hey Dan what does your screen name mean? N0KFB

Just wanted to make a comment that you dont want to double post like that or you will have the moderators after you :)

Edit your first post and add to it if you can. Keeps the forum clean and easier to read and probably the number 1 reason they hand out infractions !

73
kd0zv

[rbarrios]

back in 04 or so I had my fan clutch replaces. early when the clutches began to fail and it was only about $600 I think. Nowadays you can buy one on ebay for less thant $200, and make sure its the most up to date part number.
Some here have replaced ckutches with no need to reprogramm.
The reprogramm I believe changes the points at which the fan comes on in relation to stop and go driving and the AC performing poorly at idle.... among other thing probably.

When you say you have play in the pump, you mean you have play in the shaft?
where it allows the fan and clutch to move from side to side?

I had my pump fail. the bearings failed over a 1000 or so mile drive cross country,,, to the point where the fan wobbled so much that the trailblazer shook ALOT.
I pulled into a Chevy delaership ASAP since I had just pulled into Phoenix thru a desert drive.
They replaced it. but when we popped the hood, we had a hint of antifreeze smell.... thought it was not violently leaking.
The wobbleing of the shaft also allowed the belt to getr worn down on either sides by the pulleys. it too was replaced...

Now some 50,ooo miles later, I just changed the belt myself. It was about $38 for the belt, and about 15 minutes to carefully do it, since it was my 1st time... it was extremely EASY.

[rich]

I really didn't find a wiring diagram any where for the fan circuit, but checked the error code po495 which is fan speed high, seems to mean the computer wants it on slow and it is not responding... I was hoping maybe it would call out a sensor problem or something but not... I also swapped the fan relay with the one (same p/n ) next to it & still no good.. Reseated connectors, checked for corrosion on harness etc. I got the part at checker for $175 with tax. Sounds like a saturday project.

If you don't know most checkers will borrow you a code checker tool, you bring it in they will print you a report. When it is fixed you simply borrow the tool again and clear the service engine light in the parking lot.

[EME]

I too recently diagnosed a noise as a fan wobble; currently at just under 1/4". Is there any way to get a hold of new bearings instead of replacing the entire clutch?


Chipper, before you go and put on a new belt, you'll need to degrease your engine to get rid of the WD-40. Oh yeah, also wear some gloves to prevent removing the flesh from your knuckles when putting the belt back on.

[Mean_I-Sixer]

Question: My fan clutch only makes the "whoosing sound" every now and then on cold days, only if I don't let it warm up for very long. When it does it it stops within half a block. If its warm out or I let it sit and idle on a cold day its fine, is this normal?

[RozmerJJ]

Question: My fan clutch only makes the "whoosing sound" every now and then on cold days, only if I don't let it warm up for very long. When it does it it stops within half a block. If its warm out or I let it sit and idle on a cold day its fine, is this normal?

That is normal fan noise. You have a problem if it is making that noise all the time.