1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Out of 8 C900's I've owned; 2 were new and one was low milege, these 3 all went over 100k miles before anything needed replacing, waterpump, belts, regulator, tranny etc. It's hard to get 50K out of even the good waterpump(cast impeller), belts can be a problem too.
My thoughts about the problem with water pumps and belts: Buy the good pump, get continental belts with the same lot number, replace the alternator bushings and properly tension the belts. The problem is with the alternator bushings or not getting belts that came from the same lot. If the alternator bushings do not keep the alternator pully square with everything else, one belt will be tighter than the other, if that ends up being the outside belt, you maybe putting too much pressure on the waterpump bearings and it's seal. The same is true if the belts are slightly different in size, which can happen if they did not come from the same lot; if the smaller belt is on the outside, you might over tension to get the inside belt tight. Both belts need to be the same tension, they need to be just tight enough to run the alternator without slipping, the waterpump will turn, it's just along for the ride, relatively speaking, compared to the alternator which can be quite a load.
Replace it while it is out, it will never be easier, get the poly alternator bushings from Swedish Dynamics or just get new ones from anyone, just a drop in the bucket, considering the tranny change.
These things normally fail two ways, either the bearing fails, which makes some noise, that a normal person investigates or the seal fails; you notice that there is coolant loss(provided you open the hood once in a while or notice a spot of something in the parking lot, that wasn't there when you pulled in), normally it will only leak when it is hot, under pressure. Anyone, including the wife or girl friend of that person or anyone that you let drive your car unsupervised, SAAB driver or otherwise, that doesn't notice that the temp gauge is in the red or an idiot light is blaring at them deserves to lose a motor. I've had high temps and even 0 oil pressure happen to me, but I've never lost an engine. Gauges and idiot lights are there for a reason, take heed, check it out.
I don't have enough miles on a new pump to really check out my theories, but I feel that I am correct. If you don't replace it, get new bushings for the alternator, poly or otherwise, use your old belts, if in goo shape or buy new ones from the same lot. Good luck to you on this and your tranny search.
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