New Guy Here For Rwd Engines

TheWhiteKnight · January 6, 2008

Rarely do I ever ask for some help on cars, but this is new to me. I have an 04 Trailblazer. Actually it's my wife's truck and I ran into a little problem. The serpentine belt is squealing.... BADLY. Now I am used to FWD GM cars where you have to loosen up the entire engine just to change the belt and that has been my forte for quite a while, however now I have a little bit pf a problem. The pulley that the fan is attached to has shaft play. It can be wiggled up and down too. I am assuming that this is the water pump and that it needs to be replaced. Is that the water pump or is that the fan clutch assembly for the radiator fan?

Sorry to ask such a new guy question, but my wife travels 45 miles one way to work each day and I do not want to have her stranded anyplace.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also how hard is that "assembly" to replace? I have a small shop at my house so I have all of the tools that I need unless there's some obscure tool that I would need.

Thanks again in advance.

- Josh

Donn2390 · January 6, 2008

Rarely do I ever ask for some help on cars, but this is new to me. I have an 04 Trailblazer. Actually it's my wife's truck and I ran into a little problem. The serpentine belt is squealing.... BADLY. Now I am used to FWD GM cars where you have to loosen up the entire engine just to change the belt and that has been my forte for quite a while, however now I have a little bit pf a problem. The pulley that the fan is attached to has shaft play. It can be wiggled up and down too. I am assuming that this is the water pump and that it needs to be replaced. Is that the water pump or is that the fan clutch assembly for the radiator fan?

Sorry to ask such a new guy question, but my wife travels 45 miles one way to work each day and I do not want to have her stranded anyplace.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also how hard is that "assembly" to replace? I have a small shop at my house so I have all of the tools that I need unless there's some obscure tool that I would need.

Thanks again in advance.

- Josh

It could be either one, or both the W/P and fan clutch. If you take the end of the fan blade and move it back and forth, there should be no play. You should be able to see if the play is in the clutch or pump. A faulty clutch can cause the pump to go out. If you caught it in time, it may just be one of them.

The idler puller/tensioner is how you remove the belt. There is a special tool to release the tension on the idler, and allow the belt to come off. The tricky part is getting it back on correctly. There should be decal under the hood to show you how to properly string the new belt.

Most A/P stores rent the tools you need. Ask where you get the parts.

TheWhiteKnight · January 6, 2008

It could be either one, or both the W/P and fan clutch. If you take the end of the fan blade and move it back and forth, there should be no play. You should be able to see if the play is in the clutch or pump. A faulty clutch can cause the pump to go out. If you caught it in time, it may just be one of them.
The idler puller/tensioner is how you remove the belt. There is a special tool to release the tension on the idler, and allow the belt to come off. The tricky part is getting it back on correctly. There should be decal under the hood to show you how to properly string the new belt.

Most A/P stores rent the tools you need. Ask where you get the parts.

Yeouch.. at a tune of $200 for the clutch assembly and $50 for the water pump at autozone... yech. Does it help that I think it's the pump because I can smell the Anti-freeze?

Are there any "How to" sections on this forum? Maybe I'll take pictures and do a tech write up on it when I do it if there is nothing like that on here.

Donn2390 · January 8, 2008

[quote name='TheWhiteKnight'

Yeouch.. at a tune of $200 for the clutch assembly and $50 for the water pump at autozone... yech. Does it help that I think it's the pump because I can smell the Antifreeze?

If the pump is leaking, it will be coming from the weep hole just below the shaft, on the lower side of the pump. Pumps are designed to leak there if the seal goes south. Go to the parts store and see if they will let you look at a new pump, so you know what I mean, and where to look. See if you can get a flashlite and crawl under so you can look up at the pump. some are hard to see, so you may have to use your finger to feel under the pulley and see if it's wet. Often it will leak and run down the lower hose. It it has much of a leak, you shouldn't need to look to hard, there will be evidence on the floor..! Keep in mind, a pump can go out in two ways. It can leak,or the bearing can go out. They don't always do both at once. If you have play AND a leak, it's a slam dunk, change the pump.

You should be able to tell which item has the play when you move the fan blade back and forth. Look at the center of the clutch and see if it has play. Also look at the pump shaft to see if it has play.

Keep us posted....