[ewill3rd]

Okay so here are a few photos, I'll see if I can do this right.
Lots of folks have been asking about this type of repair lately so I thought I would snap some photos for clarification.
Without great detail right now, here are some pics of resealing the coolant crossover or "water pump housing".
I'll answer questions when I have time.

 

[ewill3rd]

The first picture shows the engine with the crossover removed, you can see it's no party to take off.
the second shows the housing, on the right side you can see where the water pump is housed. I'll take a quick pic of the pump from the other side in a few mins.
The third is to show you what happens to cause the leak.
The inner framework of the gasket fails and there is nothing to keep pressure on the seal part (blue).
The gasket collapses inwards and coolant can get past.
I'll add a pic of a new seal so you can see what a good one looks like.
I gotta get back to work. This one has to be ready tomorrow.

 

[ewill3rd]

Okay, reeeeeaaal quick.
Here's the pump with the cover removed so you can see how it fits in there.
Also this is an updated crossover seal. It's white with a black seal lip rather than black with the blue.

 

[Ranger]

Great pics, Thanks. Hope I never have the need to do it. Don't look like fun.
I moved it to the Northstar & Tech Tips sections where I thought it was better suited.

 

[codewize]

Ughh no that doesn't look like fun at all. And I thought it was going to be something easy.

 

[ewill3rd]

Nope it is really not a party code.
You going to do it yourself?
It can take a novice over 6 hours to do that job.

 

[codewize]

What the flat rate that a dealer would charge. I'm not a novice by any means but I also don't like to get into major things anymore. If a dealer can do it in 2 or 3 it might be worth it.

 

[Raze]

What year N* is that? I ask because it looks nothing like a pre-2000, different intake manifold, the TB spacer is PART OF the xover!

Holy bad redesign Batman!

 

[Ranger]

It is a 2000+ engine. You can tell by the coil module in the cam cover and the female electrical plug just behind the water pump pulley drive shaft.

 

[ewill3rd]

Oh the stories I could tell.


Here is an interesting side note.... on the 2006 and up FWD N* engines the crossover MUST BE REMOVED to replace the water pump.
That's right kids... they changed the pump from a cartridge style that is fed in from the back side and made it a front mount bolt on that goes on the crossover and is sandwiched next to the head. No way to get the pump off without taking the crossover out.

 

[Ranger]

on the 2006 and up FWD N* engines the crossover MUST BE REMOVED to replace the water pump.

Good Lord, have they no sense of decency? :want:

 

[jadcock]

Here is an interesting side note.... on the 2006 and up FWD N* engines the crossover MUST BE REMOVED to replace the water pump.
That's right kids... they changed the pump from a cartridge style that is fed in from the back side and made it a front mount bolt on that goes on the crossover and is sandwiched next to the head. No way to get the pump off without taking the crossover out.

Oh my GOSH, why would they do that...?? :rant2:

 

[ewill3rd]

Here are some highlights from the pump replacement procedure.

Remove the water pump housing. Refer to Coolant Crossover Pipe Replacement .
Remove the water pump cover bolt/studs.
Remove the water pump cover.

 

[jadcock]

How bizaare!

 

[Ranger]

WOW! Only 3 steps. Easier than I thought. :bigroll:

 

[ewill3rd]

Those are just the first 3 steps... LOL.

Oh and what GM loves to do in SI is use hyperlinks to lead to other procedures, which have hyperlinks to lead to other procedures and so on.
So step one could be 100 steps by the time you are done clicking...

I just hope they don't turn out to be leakers.

I could tell you a story about this that would blow your mind.
Not sure if I should. I think GM would get mad at me... shhhh!!

 

[Ranger]

I just hope they don't turn out to be leakers.

My '03 was leaking (albeit just seepage) at 20K. The repair was long enough to give me a loaner.

 

[codewize]

Ok so he says the part that's leaking is a part that attaches to the front of this on the side towards the front of the car. It has what appears to be a small vacuum canister on the top of it. It's just a small piece that bolts directly to the crossover manifold.

If you need pics I'll get them tomorrow.

 

[ewill3rd]

Not sure... need photo.
Maybe that "vacuum canister" is a vacuum check valve for the AIR system.
Sounds like it could be the water pump cover?
hmmm.

 

[codewize]

Something to do with this part in red. I think he said wher it attaches to the crossover manifold. Sorry about the focus. The camera wanted to lock on the closest subject, the dipstick.