From a post below, and my own problem.

IF a water pump starts leaking, do you

a.) fix it immediatly
b.) wait until leak is worse (how much worse)
c.) ignore it until ground behind car turns green while driving

Mine's been "seeping" a bit for over 1,000 miles. A trusted mechanic told me they do that and its "play" in the shaft that's the signal to fix it. Of course that can be hard for someone inexperieced like me to properly determine.

Anyway...votes?

And is the cheaper German pump from "Hepu" a good buy?

Thanks all,

Pete
1993/244/152k

The 'safe' advice is to REPLACE the pump if you see leaks...BUT...there are actually a variety of circumstances (temp variations, etc.) which can cause the pump connection into the head to 'weep' a bit, which I'm told by an experienced Volvo mechanic is 'normal' (there's even a service bulletin on it for B230's).


I also had a pupmp leak slightly for nearly 2k miles...then let go all at once (internal bearing failure). My advice...take the two hours and change it...I use vaseline on all mating surfaces (especially the rubber washers). Hepu make a great pump...solid brass internal castings vs riveted tin, etc. I've known Hepu pumps to last 250k miles...a real bargain from Volvo World at around $50 AND they provide new bolts and nuts. A further bit of advice, don't bother trying to remove/reuse the fan studs...you can get new ones (size 6 mm) at Ace hardware or NAPA for a couple of bucks...much stronger/safer...and use thread compound...Seems like for under $75 and a couple hours...you'll sleep a lot better...no brainer..REPLACE IT...Good luck

66 122
89 240
90 240

Same happened to, I left it ages before bothering (6k miles and a trip round europe), then one day I opened the bonnet with the engine running and the damn thing was squirting water all over the place
Anyway, replaced the water pump and hey presto, 3 weeks later bang goes the radiator - it was old and rusty and the extra pressure of a fuly functioning water pump bust it open. Treated it to a bottle of rad-weld, then 6 months later it burst again. A new radiator cost me £125, getting someone to fit it another 100.
one more major problem on that motor and its a trip to the scrapyard

Why does everyone insist on preventative maintenance??

It's the little things like drippy water pumps, leaky oil seals, squealing belts, and faulty marker lamps, that give a car its character.

Ask anyone who ever saw a Norton or BSA motorcycle from the 70's. It was the oil drips that were their trademark.

Old Harleys are famous for shaking 17 times while idling at the average red light.

As far as breakdowns - heck, that is when you really notice all the Volvo owners out there - leaping to help another die hard Volvonian overcome the intricateand weird and peculiar Swedish engineering. Let those cheaply designed north american cookie cutter cars purr by - we, the hardy Volvonians, make every trip an adventure...

Besides- what is faith if it is never tested??

Do you really believe that a Volvo is reliable??

How will you know if you are always maintaining it???

See how clear it is - when you hear the other side?

You could motor along in trouble free enjoyment - or you could be thriving on an adrenalin surged nail biting trip, talking and coaxing every mile out of the ole boy - wondering if you will make it home. And what an endorphin rush when you pull into your own garage.


Carry on Volvoing!!!

Dad,
Mom asked you not to post when you have been drinking. OK?

















;)
--
85 - 244 GL - Looking for a 245!

he he me too, about a 1500 miles with a minor leak. It's not that hard to replace the water pump, about 1 hours work. But it's just been cold out.

I'm a fan of fixing it if it leaks more than a few drops. Could probably go a while, but in the winter I don't fool around. The cost of a tow is probably more than doing the repair in the first place.

Generally, I think you fix it if it is coming from the weep hole, which signals a worn water pump. If it is leaking from the seal around the little metal water line that can often be fixed without replacement.

It can go on leaking for a while without a problem, but it can have a catastrophic failure that leaves you stranded. So fix it as soon as possible is my vote.

I agree with Chris that the Hepu is very good and very reasonably priced.

Good luck!

Mike Brown
Greenville, NC
1986 244 137K
1996 965 92K

It depends on where it's leaking from, and how desperate you are to get it fixed (or how cheap you are). If it is leaking from the shaft seal, replace it ASAP.

Mostly, if it leaks while the car is running, it's time to do some replacement.

The HEPU pump is the best aftermarket one I've used. A great value. They last a long time too. I've never found that the Volvo pumps are any better. But they do say Volvo on them, which is worth it for some people. It depends on what you want.
--
Chris Herbst, near Chicago.

I can't speak from personal experience re the b230, but on my b21 the water pump kept leaking past the o-ring at the top connection between pump housing and engine head.

An indy Volvo mechanic suggested I put in some Aluma Seal. I figured it was just another worthless stop-leak, but he insisted this was better, so I tried it.

Hey--it worked. The leak stopped completely and it never has leaked again for another two years.

I don't have any financial connection with Aluma Seal. I don't even know who makes it. Just a satisfied customer.

So my recommendation would be to look *real close* and be sure where the leak is coming from before you decide whether to replace the water pump.

Good luck.

Doug Harvey

I'm ordering in the morning. Think I'll have the shop install it as it is just too darn cold (no garage here).

It leaks on start. The "fins" get wet. They are dry 15 minutes of ideling later. Does it when very hot out, or very cold. It's leaking at the hose (output?) too. Seems to stop once the thermo opens.

Hey, for edification's sake, does the coolant flow OUT from the block into the bottom of the radiator or vice versa??

Thanks all.

--

Pete

I say, you're doing the right thing. Figure on a worst-case scenario where you have to call the hook to tow you to some shop that you don't want to use in the first place... it could end up costing you three times what you're getting it for as a preventative measure.

You will not regret it, although it's hard to prove that it would have failed. Just go with that thought, though.
--
Chris Herbst, near Chicago.

If it leaks, fix it.

I had one with a slow leak that turned into a gusher in the space of about 5 miles--lost all my coolant. Luckily I was at a gas station and it was only about 10 degrees F out. I filled up the resivoir with some cheapo antifreeze which was completely gone by the time I got home (2 miles later). Don't let this happen to you!

I don't have any experience with Hepu products, but my inclination is to use Volvo/OEM for parts as crucial to the well-being of your Volvo a the water pump is!

jeff daigle
'89 745GL 140,000mi

Pete, If you have some tools its pretty much DIY. I know of a major Aluminum component to fail if you don`t do it soon, big $$$! Check 700/900 FAQ on this site. good luck.