Help with water pump (i believe) change on a 02 viper with a paxton

[Vital Velocity]

Ok so a quick rundown....

the other day i was driving around with the ac on and went to switch it to the heater....well the air stayed cool through the vents....switched it to the defrost vents and it started blowing hot

Well later in the night im driving home and smeel coolant so i drive it home....i pull it into the garage and as i get out i hear liquid hitting the ground and steam comming out of the driver side vent on the hood....i pop the hood and

A) steam was comming from right inbetween the two intake inlets on the plenium

B) The passanger side hose from the intercooler had blown off ( i dont know how long it has been like this? ).


The car gets hot during summer days ( 220-230ish ).... im taking a stab in the dark and saying water pump ( am i close? )

If so what is the procedure to change the water pump on an 02 with a paxton blower on it.

Thanks

 

[Qualitywires.com]

You might have had a stuck thermostat. Your thermostat housing is under the plenum between the two throttle bodies. If its' your water pump that went out and you have a Paxton, you will need to pretty much take the whole front off to get at the water pump.

 

[Vital Velocity]

The whole front as in the blower, and belt?

I thought about the thermostat, but why would it be pouring coolant out? Im a little upset but at the same time at least it happened pulling into the garage and not on the highway

 

[Qualitywires.com]

built up pressure.

Yes you will need to remove the paxton assembly to get at the water pump.

 

[plumcrazy]

id make sure before i started pulling the WHOLE front of that motor off ? and paxton too.

 

[dave6666]

Pump the system up using a hand pump to confirm the leak spot before tearing into it. Or clean it up, refill it and do it with the engine running to find the leak.

 

[Vital Velocity]

Is there a easy way to look for the leak? When looking at the front of the motor its hard to see much with the brackets/blower on there.

 

[jdeft1]

Inspection mirror....and a drop light and patience??

What dave6666 said....

 

[Vital Velocity]

What kind of hand pump do i use? Where do i hook it up?

Sorry for the newb questions...on my other cars it was easier to see the water pump so it was pretty cut and dry if there was an issue with it or something else.

My other concern is the intercooler pipe popping off

 

[jdeft1]

Dave's talking about a cooling system testing pump. You remove the cooling system relief cap and connect the pump using a special fitting instead. then you can pressurize the system and look for coolant leaks without burning yourself! I find mine to be very handy.

 

[Vital Velocity]

Can i pick one up at autozone?

If i do have to replace the pump i guess now is the time to do the thermostat, and radiator

 

[Purdue_Boiler_Viper]

Call Chuck Tator, Tator's Dodge. He will get you what you need.

 

[dave6666]

I try to stay one click above Auto Zone quality of tools...

Amazon.com: KD Tools 3700 Master Cooling System Test Kit With Radiator and Cap Adapters: Automotive

 

[Bugeater]

How can one test to see if the water pump is working properly? I know some of them in early 2000 or 2001 had bad impellers. I have had a heating issue for around a year or so and was wondering if there was a test I could perform before simply "replacing and seeing what happens"...

Do you really need to take the front off to get to the pump???

 

[dave6666]

I'm not aware of any tests for water pump performance, short of ensuring you've done everything else first and if you still think you've got a cooling problem then, well, only one thing left.

The water pump is actually pretty easy to get off. A few minor bolt-on goodies in the way on a stock engine.

 

[Vital Velocity]

Hey your in texas....why dont you just come on down to houston and help a brotha out

 

[dave6666]

Hey your in texas....why dont you just come on down to houston and help a brotha out

That's a bunch of tools to load up. Ever head north?

I do actually have a good used pump off my '01. Changed it with a new one just because it seemed like the right thing to do when I was doing everything else to my cooling system.