Water Pump on 96 Tahoe

Mr Dave · July 9, 2005

Is there some trick I'm missing to get the fan clutch off on this thing? The threads on the replacement look to be normal threads. I just cannot hold the thing well enough to loosen the huge nut. Any tips or tricks? Why did they change from holding the fan clutch on with the 4 bolts that old the pulley on? HELP! The hurricane may be coming and most of my gas is in the Tahoe with its leaking water pump.

Mr Dave · July 9, 2005

By the way, its the 350 Vortec engine.

OUMike · July 9, 2005

Heya

If its anything like my 94' 4.3L (which I'd be willing to bet that it is), you have to remove the whole assemebly. The fan and water pump..whole nine yards. The after you've done this remove the water pump from the fan clutch. I believe there is a few bolts that are only accessable while the whole assembly is off the engine.

Its been a while since I've done this, so I'm recalling from memory, but that sounds right. Let us know how it goes.

Stay dry..

jwhjr · July 9, 2005

Sometimes leaving the belt on provides enough resistance to be able to get the nut loose. I know there's one of the GM "special" tools for the fan clutch as well. I just did the water pump on my 99 Suburban about a month ago and my buddy had some sort of wrench with a belt on it contraption that we used to hold the pully still while we broke the nut loose. It was a #@$% to get loose, and I was holding the strap wrench and had the open end break my knuckle so be careful.

shiden_kai · July 10, 2005

Is there some trick I'm missing to get the fan clutch off on this thing? The threads on the replacement look to be normal threads. I just cannot hold the thing well enough to loosen the huge nut. Any tips or tricks? Why did they change from holding the fan clutch on with the 4 bolts that old the pulley on? HELP! The hurricane may be coming and most of my gas is in the Tahoe with its leaking water pump.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No trick needed, just the right tools. There are small holes in

the pump pulley between the bolts that are used by a holding

tool. Then you need the correct size wrench to fit the large

nut (the size escapes me at the moment). I have had luck

with just using the proper wrench, and a long blade screwdriver

to hold the pulley in place. I just set the screwdrive between

a couple of the pulley bolts.

Maybe you can rent/buy the correct tool at the local parts

store?

Ian

Mr Dave · July 10, 2005

Well its not coming off easy. I tried using a screwdriver, visegrips, and a wrench to hold it still while trying to loosen the fan clutch. I bought an adjustable wrench for the big nut. I did not find anyone with a 36MM wrench. Anyone know what the name of the tool is? I don't have a clue what to call it.

Right now I just put it all back together and hope that it won't leak enough water to overheat until I can get it swapped.

jwhjr · July 10, 2005

Well its not coming off easy. I tried using a screwdriver, visegrips, and a wrench to hold it still while trying to loosen the fan clutch. I bought an adjustable wrench for the big nut. I did not find anyone with a 36MM wrench. Anyone know what the name of the tool is? I don't have a clue what to call it.

Right now I just put it all back together and hope that it won't leak enough water to overheat until I can get it swapped.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The GM tool number for the one that holds the pulley is J 41240.

Raymond Lowe · July 10, 2005

You need this;

Anybody who deals with kd-tools may have them in stock. They grip two of the four bolt heads while you crack the big nut with the wrench. Mine works great.

sjspor · July 10, 2005

Leave the belt on, use a 2ft pipe wrench, and one quick smack on the end should do it.

99-2door · July 10, 2005

Heya

If its anything like my 94' 4.3L (which I'd be willing to bet that it is), you have to remove the whole assemebly. The fan and water pump..whole nine yards. The after you've done this remove the water pump from the fan clutch. I believe there is a few bolts that are only accessable while the whole assembly is off the engine.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is not like the 94.

Plus you don't have to take the pump and fan off together on a 94. All you have to do is take the 4 nuts off to get the fan off. You do have to use the old studs on the new pump.

Chad H · July 11, 2005

On my '04 which was similar, all you need to do is a find an adjustable wrench big enough and a rubber mallet. Put the wrench on it and smack it counterclockwise to loosen the nut. I also left the belt on.

MemphisDoug · July 11, 2005

I just got done doing this job on my Envoy. The local Murray's Auto Parts has a fan clutch wrench set that you can borrow. For my vehicle, I used one really big wrench that went over the 4 pulley bolts. The 2nd wrench fit the nut on the clutch. The nice thing about the wrenches in the set is that they are thin and give you plenty of room to work.