3rd time's the charm (Cruze water pump)?

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
I am no sure how you would fix it? Are you thinking of using different than OEM water pump?


Basically, as well as replacing the belt and ensuring the tensioner is working properly. If the OEM pump isn't any good, the aftermarket may well have a better one. Also making sure that the gasket surfaces are shiny clean to ensure proper pulley alignment. All that's a few years down the line, though. It's still GM's issue to take care of at the moment.

 

[Cujet]

I wonder if the antifreeze they use is "silicate free". Some types of coolant promote pump seal wear. This might be a situation where a proper and very thorough flush, along with the use of a proper silicate free coolant.

 

[MarkM66]

The GM 3.6 is having water pump problems too. GM quality at it's finest.

Just throw product out there, and let the customer do the testing.

 

[supton]

Toyota has had problems of late with water pumps too. You'd think that all these years it'd all be figured out.

 

[hattaresguy]

Typical GM [censored], my truck is on its 3rd power steering rack. They just keep leaking.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Typical GM [censored], my truck is on its 3rd power steering rack. They just keep leaking.
GM the heart break of America. Their ad says it all.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
I wonder if the antifreeze they use is "silicate free". Some types of coolant promote pump seal wear. This might be a situation where a proper and very thorough flush, along with the use of a proper silicate free coolant.


AFAIK Dex-Cool is silicate-free. It's never seen anything except Dex-Cool (and Dex-clone when it needed a top-off).

At least it's being taken care of under warranty, and warranty has been extended on this part since it's a known issue. I can think of a lot of other makes where I'd be SOL at this mileage.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: CT8
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Typical GM [censored], my truck is on its 3rd power steering rack. They just keep leaking.
GM the heart break of America. Their ad says it all.


That was my biggest surprise going from Mercedes to GM. The Germans tend to have problems but they come out with a new part and part number that fixes the problem. Sometimes 10 years after the car went out of production. If you really get into a Mercedes over the vehicles production life cycle you will see lots of the part numbers superseded by improved versions as time goes on. With GM I don't see that.

GM may build a faulty part for a decade like the intermediate steering shaft on all their Silverado's kind of fixing it, but not really until the new model comes out. My truck is on number 3 of that as well BTW. My uncles SS on number 4 or 5....

Ford does this as well; with Chrysler products its just typical spotty QC. Some are fantastic, some were built on Friday.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Typical GM [censored], my truck is on its 3rd power steering rack. They just keep leaking.


My 2000 Buick LeSabre has been a fantastic reliable car. My only complaint is the kick panel that hangs down on my feet as I try to drive. I had to take it off yesterday until I figure out a way to secure it.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I'd love to say a lot of positive things about the engineering and quality that went into my Chevy Caprice, but such comments would be reserved exclusively for the engine.

Still love the [censored] wagon to death, though!

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I wonder if They used an actual gm pump or a Chinese one from auto zone.


The cheap Autozone replacement pump for my Alero was made in USA:

 

[dishdude]

Bomba de agua!

My parents had an Acura and a Maxima that were getting transmissions at this mileage. It happens...sadly cars aren't perfect.

 

[DoubleWasp]

La la la Bomba De Agua!

Makes me curious as to whether it is a quality control issue, or if the design of the pump is simply faulty or inadequate.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
La la la Bomba De Agua!

Makes me curious as to whether it is a quality control issue, or if the design of the pump is simply faulty or inadequate.



Considering how GM extended the warranty on the pump to 150k miles, my experiences, and the experiences of others, I'd guess quality control from a supplier. The pumps leak from the shaft. Probably because of cheap bearings that have too much play and take out the seals. Had it happen on a front-loader washing machine, no reason it can't happen on a water pump. Hopefully the next pump is a good one. Else they eat another repair.

 

[Brettm1388]

I've put dozens of those water pumps on and never had one come back for the same thing. I would lean more towards an installation issue than a product defect.

 

[artificialist]

I figured if it kept happening, Federal Mogul would make a Problem Solver labeled part. They do that with their Fel-Pro division and MOOG division.

They could also do the same thing to the Toyota 2.4L engine.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Brettm1388
I've put dozens of those water pumps on and never had one come back for the same thing. I would lean more towards an installation issue than a product defect.


I'll give the local dealer another shot at it. Otherwise there are two other Chevy dealers a reasonable distance away.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx


The cheap Autozone replacement pump for my Alero was made in USA:

I'm going to step out on a limb here and say that the BOX was made in USA and the assembly part was putting the Chinese-made water pump INTO the box. Very few cheap, new, water pump parts are made in USA.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx


The cheap Autozone replacement pump for my Alero was made in USA:

I'm going to step out on a limb here and say that the BOX was made in USA and the assembly part was putting the Chinese-made water pump INTO the box. Very few cheap, new, water pump parts are made in USA.



The old O'Reilly Masterpro line (now the Murray line) has the exact same wording on their boxes- I wouldn't be surprised that they're the same pump. Anyway, of all the pumps I've put on, they are the only ones I've had zero issues with. In fact, the one on my wife's Grand Am now has about 40k miles and is still whirring away.

Probably Chinese guts in the pump with some American hands checking it out and doing some minor assembly.

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
La la la Bomba De Agua!


Se necessita para un pequeño goteo

(OK that's too many syllables, but I don't really speak Spanish).