Apologies for resuscitating a 5 year old thread. However, I wanted to thank everyone who contributed here and especially HannahsHHR - I am undertaking this right now and the detailed instructions are extremely useful...especially kneeling on the front bumper, laying over the top of the engine, and how to get to everything. I've done my share of cussing thus far, and have some decent bruising in a couple places. Since it's pretty cold out, and the days are short, I've only been getting a short amount of time to work on it each day (next two days should be somewhat warmer, so hopefully will finish). My O-ring is leaking on the water pump side, but replacing both nonetheless, as well as a few other things while having accessibility to some areas I wouldn't otherwise.

Many thanks again, everyone.

 

Im glad this helped!

 

Very much so!

It was warmer today and I was able to finish. Filled with distilled water, idled for a few minutes while still on the ramps, and the pipe was dry where it had been leaking at the water pump. I'm certain that if I had taken it in for service, they would have told me I needed a new water pump and hit me up for $1000+.

I also replaced the heater hoses, temp sensor, thermostat, upstream O2 sensor, and that housing gasket/"O-ring" (it is round, but you press it in to the oblong shape in the housing). Downstream O2 sensor did not want to come out, so that will wait until spring.

I probably should replace the water pump (car has 140,000 miles), but after this, not sure I want to take that on...at least not very soon.

Thanks once again!

 

You might consider the timing chain if you’re gonna replace the water pump

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I have to see if I can handle this. I have a few months to read up, and watch videos before it gets warm...I only did this O-ring now because it was urgent.

Appreciate it.

 

No problem, look into our how to section