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Replace water pump myself - '97 TJ

I replaced a water pump in my '97 TJ 2.5L jeep last weekend at 128,600 miles. While I was at it, I replaced the upper and lower hoses as well. I ordered the Jeep service manual from Daimler Chrysler just prior to undertaking the task.

Has anyone in this group ever replaced a water pump on this model? The reason I ask is because of the Power Steering pump bracket and how much of a pain it was.

To those who aren't aware, the power steering pump bracket is attached to the water pump, so you must unbolt the power steering pump, then unbolt the power steering pump bracket to get the water pump out. The manual says to completely remove the bracket altogether, but the graphic that it shows isn't accurate. It shows the bracket attached with three simple bolts. In reality, the two front bolts are simple, but the third lower attachment is another story. There, a little flange is sandwiched between the engine block and a major engine attachment fitting, connecting the engine to the frame and this sandwiched flange is further affixed with a funky stud/nut type fastener (a stud with a nut fixed on it somehow). I took this funky fastener out, but there was no way to get the bracket out because this little flange was smashed between the motor mount and the engine. If I got it out, I knew I'd never get it back in.

I ended up replacing the nut/stud, removed the two front bolts, and just bending the bracket out of the way so I could get the water pump out.

I replaced the pump, but then had MAJOR problems with the bracket because I couldn't get the holes in the bracket to line up properly with the holes in the pump. The pump is cast aluminum I believe. With the bracket bolts not lining up perfectly, I began to cross thread the bolts as I tried to screw them into the tapped holes on the pump. I pulled and pushed and tugged that bracket for at least and hour trying to get it back into its original shape. By screwing a bolt into the back side of the upper hole, thereby reforming the theads, I finally got one bolt back in, but the lower one I had to leave out. I looks like it is running fine.

I am interested in hearing about how others have handled replacing a water pump on this engine.

Thanks,

-Trent

Reply to
mohead
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We just did one last week on a 95 YJ 2.5 L, 100,000 miles, found that 1/2 of the engine has to come out to get it changed, but the power steering pump wasn't one of it, although it was a pain trying to get W pump in and around power S pump, it will only go one way, at just the right angle, I put it in to test fit, took it out and it was very easy, 10 minutes later when I went to put it in permanently I pried and twisted, wiggled and turned, I looked at my daughter with a look of, is this the same part I just had in there?, took me forever to get it in that second time, it's probably more then a 1 hour job to change with everything you have to take off.

Reply to
Greg

Well, I haven't done 'that' engine, but on all the other Jeep waterpumps I have done I never unbolted anything except the the pump itself. I have never even loosened off the fan belts.....

Really. The pumps can wiggle out from under the steering bracket and the belt 'was' adjusted right before so why mess with it....

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >
Reply to
Mike Romain

On the 95 YJ 2.5, it is air box and hose, fan shroud, fan, belt, rad hose, we did the thermostat too so heater hose also, as I say by the time we had water pump out more then 1/2 the engine bay was empty, boy that's a small engine compaired to my 258, felt like I could just lift it out and put it on work bench to work on.

Reply to
Greg

Well, I had to take the fan off on these too. The belt comes off with the fan pulley.

Mike

Greg wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Mike,

I guess the 2.5L on the '97 TJ is different than what you and Greg have worked on. On my waterpump, there are a total of 6 holes consisting of

4 clearance holes (to bolt the pump to the engine block) and 2 tapped holes (into which the power steering pump bracket bolts go). The power steering pump bracket is also attached to a large casting (intake manifold) with three long bolts that go thru the power steering pump. The pump ends up being sandwiched between the bracket and the casting.

This power steering pump bracket traps the water pump and there ain't no way I can see that you could get that water pump out without removing that bracket, or bending it like I did. I didn't actually remove the pump though, I just unattached it from the bracket and the casting and sat it over to the side of the engine compartment, with the hoses still attached.

For the record, to replace the water pump and both radiator hoses, I had to remove the fan, the belt, the water pump pulley, power steering pump (hoses still attached), I ended up removing the other idler pulley too on the left to gain access to something (I can't remember now) and I removed the air filter/manifold connector piece that runs across the top of the engine so that I could access the heater core hose connection to the water pump. The adjustment idler pulley on the right is attached to the power steering bracket, so you have to get the belt off to allow you to get that bracket out (or at least out of the way).

thanks for the replies.

-Trent

Reply to
mohead

I have found that the pumps will slide sideways and twist out from under that bracket. The pump should have come stock with a paper gasket. This gives a little sliding room. Even more going back in after it's cleaned.

When I take off the fan and pulley, this loosens off the fan belt. I gave up going after the tensioner unless I have to.

Could be they have made the new ones so you get the privilege of paying the $tealership several more hours labor to change it though....

Mike

snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Same on the 95 YJ, just tilt it just right to get it under bracket, and I know what you mean Mike about the tensioner, we changed her belt a while back, finally gave up on the tentioner and turned engine and rolled belt on.

Reply to
Greg

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