Advice needed for waterpump replacement

[mctmatt]

I have a 2007 Chevrolet Impala 3.5 Flex Fuel that has a small water pump leak. I am in the process of ordering a new one from Rock Auto and my question is should I go ahead and order a new water pump pulley and drive belt kit and do a total replacement all at one time. Probably going to order Gates water pump . I failed to mention that I have 81,200 miles on this car and it still looks almost new as I try to keep it looking its best including cleaning the engine.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Gates water pumps are made in China. You can do better.

 

[dogememe]

I'd avoid the Gates water pump. Stick with ACDelco if possible.

 

[Trav]

Stay well clear of Gates Pumps, idlers, tensioners, etc, they are garbage of the highest order. OE only. The ACDELCO 251697 is the OE pump, pricey but honestly spend it once and cry once, with the other trash you will cry a thousand times.

Wow everyone posted the same thing at the same time. LOL

 

[Audios]

I use Gates pumps often in my shop, and never had any issues that people have mentioned about them. I actually have one in my M3 from 4 years ago, no problems what so ever. I put one in this week on an 05 Mini. What were the issues people talk about? Poor quality? Even the Delco stuff is going to come from China....

Edit: I just looked up the 2 delco parts. Canadian Made list 327/my cost 221, Delco Pro list 327 my cost 95!!!! Good pump starts with 251- china 252 for Delco.

 

[dogememe]

Originally Posted by Audios
I use Gates pumps often in my shop, and never had any issues that people have mentioned about them. I actually have one in my M3 from 4 years ago, no problems what so ever. I put one in this week on an 05 Mini. What were the issues people talk about? Poor quality? Even the Delco stuff is going to come from China....

Really all brands of water pump are hit and miss now - ACDelco is just more likely to be higher quality. However, I've found ACDelco ignition parts to be disappointing recently, I'd probably just put Standard/BWD in if I needed a cap and rotor.

As are most parts. It's sad. If the water pump went out in my Chevy I wouldn't buy one at any of the parts stores in town, even the one I work at... I'm on my fourth remanufactured steering gearbox. I gotta buy a Redhead or BlueTop already lol.

 

[The_Jeff]

Sometimes removing the pulley while the pump is still on the car gets you clearance you need/ could use to wiggle it out of there. Break the bolts loose when the belt's still on. I would not order a new pulley... the belt is up to you.

 

[Jimzz]

If the belt has 60k+ then yea replace. If not re-use it. Pulley should be fine also unless it was damaged. Check the idler pulley as those usually wear out faster than many items on the belt system.

And I agree, do not use Gates water pumps. Be careful with AC Delco as well as most of their after market pumps are just re boxed gates WPs.

I've used Airtex (this is what most advance WPs are made by now), cardone, and even newer GMB with good results.

 

[Trav]

AC Delco OE line only. The Advantage and pro lines are junk.

AC Delco line..
OE line = Original factory build quality, good to very good quality.
Pro = Barely serviceable for short term applications, used cars for sale or 3 wheels in the bone yard.
Advantage = Real scrap better sold by the pound.

 

[andyd]

No dog in this fight. Why so much money for a WP? I used to buy GMB pumps for a 528e for less than 40$. They were good enough to last 2 timing belt changes. Cheap enough to change "while in there" Never had a failure. For $300, a part with 3 moving pieces should be better built. Perhaps even re-buildable as they used to be.

 

[Chris142]

Ya the gates pumps are Chinese. Every gates tensioner,idler etc i have sold was made in USA or Canada and appear to be the OE part.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by Trav
AC Delco OE line only. The Advantage and pro lines are junk.

AC Delco line..
OE line = Original factory build quality, good to very good quality.
Pro = Barely serviceable for short term applications, used cars for sale or 3 wheels in the bone yard.
Advantage = Real scrap better sold by the pound.


Advantage line made in China. Pro line some in China some in North America. Pretty good quality on most parts. OE line mostly made in USA but often double the cost. If you're keeping the car over 5 years, maybe go with that, otherwise Pro line is a good compromise.

 

[qdeezie]

On my '03 Focus, I used a Gates belt tensioner and it rattled. Replaced with a new one, it rattled just like the previous one. Replaced again with OEM Ford, the rattle stopped. I am not against Gates at all (I tend to use their belts and hoses), but for Ford Focus belt tensioners, they weren't great at all. For aftermarket water pumps, I've had very good success with Airtex.

 

[mctmatt]

Looks like the consensus is to stay away from the Gates and stick with AC Delco and I guess my second choice would be Cardone Select as I am only given 4 choices the other two being Gates and Airtex. I will check the belt to see if I see any signs of wear and take another look at all the pulleys before I submit any order . This will be my first time doing a water pump replacement. I started reading (not posting ) a few years back Bob is the Oil Guy and so many of you have helped me venture out to doing many of the jobs that I used to take to a mechanic so my confidence keeps growing and I try to be very aware of when I need professional help and when I need to stop and come back to the computer to ask a few more questions so I want to say thanks to everyone here.

 

[Onetor]

Our Master Mechanic Trav recommends OE. I echo his sentiment. Quality vs unk? If your going to keep the vehicle go OEM. That's my 2 cents. Good luck!

 

[caprice_2nv]

I refuse to buy or recommend any ac Delco with the failure rate seen in the independent garages I've worked at. Last winter I replaced the starter twice on my Caprice because Ac Delco is the only starter that was available that day.

I believe the water pump I installed on my 76 350 Oldsmobile in my 84 Cutlass was a Cardone. That was 10+ years ago and 100k miles. I'm worried it will fail any time but it has definitely outlasted the typical aftermarket life expectancy we're seeing now. The Ac Delco my friend put on his 79 Cadillac when he did the timing chain lasted about 3-4 years and 10k miles before it started [censored] coolant out this year.

 

[spasm3]

Just be aware that the delco name alone does not = OE . The Delco advantage and professional lines are lower end parts. Unless it is labeled ac/delco OE, it may even be reboxed.

A few years ago i bought some delco advantage tie rod ends for a saturn. One side was a sealed end , the other side had a grease nipple!

Clearly renamed/reboxed.

 

[mctmatt]

Just placed my order for the ACDELCO 251697 Water Pump with Gasket total price $141.79 had a 5% discount but I added extra to have it shipped faster so total was $146.69. No other items ordered. Heading out to Harbor Freight to grab a few items that I will need to do this job so thanks again everyone. I will be honest glad I posted because I just assumed that all these water pumps that were my option were the same quality. Oh just to let you know Autozone is asking over $250 for this same ACDELCO pump ....man glade I can wait to have it shipped.

 

[Jimzz]

Originally Posted by andyd
No dog in this fight. Why so much money for a WP? I used to buy GMB pumps for a 528e for less than 40$. They were good enough to last 2 timing belt changes. Cheap enough to change "while in there" Never had a failure. For $300, a part with 3 moving pieces should be better built. Perhaps even re-buildable as they used to be.



Yea many do not use GMB as the older ones had a much higher failure rate. Newer ones are better. So they are on my use list. But Gates and no name whiote box pumps are a no go.

I still prefer Aisan water pumps that are driven by the timing belt.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted by mctmatt
Looks like the consensus is to stay away from the Gates and stick with AC Delco and I guess my second choice would be Cardone Select as I am only given 4 choices the other two being Gates and Airtex. I will check the belt to see if I see any signs of wear and take another look at all the pulleys before I submit any order . This will be my first time doing a water pump replacement. I started reading (not posting ) a few years back Bob is the Oil Guy and so many of you have helped me venture out to doing many of the jobs that I used to take to a mechanic so my confidence keeps growing and I try to be very aware of when I need professional help and when I need to stop and come back to the computer to ask a few more questions so I want to say thanks to everyone here.
NP dude! I read this board for years before I started posting and I learned a lot. A DIYer would never know what brands are junk without consulting professionals who install these parts everyday, their insight is appreciated by all!