For anyone who hasn't read my cooling system problems, I'll give a quick rundown.
History: While on the highway, driving to school, the car started to overheat. I immediately pulled over and bought some antifreeze, thinking my leaky rad was nearly empty again. After I poured in less than a pint, the rad was full. Oh ****. So I limped to school (1 mile away) and had her towed home after class.
1. I thought the thermostat might be stuck shut, so I replaced it. She still overheated.
2. I thought the rad leak might be too severe for proper pressure, so I replaced it. She still overheated.
3. I noticed the fans were no longer coming on, so I jumped the fan switch. She still overheated.
4. I flushed the entire system via the heater hose (because the heater doesn't work either). She still overheated.
At this point I can see no logical explanation other than the water pump being bad. So, I purchased all the parts for a timing belt/water pump job ($400 in parts, including the $100 auto-to-manual tensioner kit). This was 3 weeks ago.
A buddy of mine who has been working on Hondas for the last 10 years finally offered to help, and said he would be by on Friday. When Friday came, he came saying he had some things to do and would be over when finished. So, I started without him. I spent the next 9 hours draining and disassembling the engine by myself. I got the PS pump, alternator, and VC off, among other things.
Buddy said he would be over Saturday morning to help me finish the job, bringing an air compressor and impact gun for the crank pulley bolt. He showed up at 6pm ready to work, except the crank pulley won't come off. After 10 minutes of hitting it with the 250lb-ft impact, the gun finally blew up. So we traveled 20 miles to my brother's house to get his 700lb-ft gun. Same thing, it won't budge, even with half a can of WD-40. So, I call up the guy who did my timing belt just 25k ago and asked him what he did. He said he used the special crank tool that counter-torques the pulley while torquing the bolt. Great. Next, we try torching the bolt to see if some heat will loosen it up. Nope.
I decide we should continue anyway, but removing the lower timing belt cover (in pieces). As soon as we get it halfway off, I see a major problem. Part of the auto-tensioner assembly has snapped off where it mounts to the water pump and is clamped to the belt below it. We get all of that crap taken off and now the water pump is free to be removed. As I'm pulling it off the block, I watch as the impeller just falls to the ground, pump still in my hand. So, I'm pretty sure I've properly diagnosed my overheating problem by suspecting the water pump of being the culprit. I installed the new water pump, and that's where we quit for the night. Here are some photos.
How the auto-tensioner mounts to the water pump.
How mine was broken (possibly by the shop that did my head gasket).
How the impeller is detached from the water pump.
How my lower timing belt cover came off.
However, the crank pulley is still there taunting us, and that's where the story ends for tonight. I'll be checking around tomorrow to hopefully find someone who has this tool.
If anyone has any suggestions/advice, feel free. If anyone has a spare lower timing belt cover or knows a quick place to get one on a Sunday, let me know.
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