montytx

Hoping someone can help me decipher the culprit with this gremlin. I have an ES300 1995 1MZFE engine.

My car blew a head gasket a few months back. I decided to rebuild the engine myself for the experience and to save $$$. Its been a long road to today when I fired it up and was quite happy it turned over. I have one problem, though. The car is overheating.

I have a new radiator and a new thermostat. I did not check the waterpump though. I am suspicious now it may be bad. I was told that it had been replaced a few years prior when I bought it. I am also hearing a slight bad bearing sound coming from the front of the engine.

Can the water pump freeze up and the timing belt still run? Wouldn't I smell rubber burning?

Is there a way to definitively tell if the WP is bad with out removing everything to get at it?

Symptoms:
Overflow is boiling water
Engine is running hot
Bad Bearing sound

Thanks in advance!

LeX2K

It's possible. The water pump on these engines is driven by the smooth side of the timing belt, so if the water pump seizes up, there is going to be some serious friction happening, but I would imagine it make a horrible noise. The impeller can also separate from the shaft on the water pump sometimes, so the pulley will turn but the water pump will do nothing. Other causes are an impeller that has disintegrated.

You may just have air trapped in the system, do you have a Lisle Spill Free Funnel? Great thing for getting all the air out. How long does it take for the engine to start to overheat?

montytx

I am thinking it may be the props that disintegrated. The overheating starts within a couple of minutes.
When the rear head went out it was 105 outside and the upper plastic radiator tank had a hole in it from all the heat. It makes since that the water pump gave out somehow. I should have just changed it out. I have one on order.