Broken water pump bolt

[Tim Opt Holt]

As you know, the water pump is attached by 2 long bolts. The top bolt holds the pump on. The lower bolt is a "set" bolt, for keeping the belt tensioned. This set bolt on my 2 GMF seized and sheared-off when I did water pump service. To jury-rig this, I have put another bolt and nut throught the slot, holding the alternator away from the engine block, and I ran a cable tie through the slot under the adjacent engine mount bolt/nut. This is holding. Any suggestions on a more permanent fix?The mechanic says the permanent fix is to pull the engine out and try to heat the old bolt/use liquid wrench, or replace the front of the engine (>$$$$).

 

[Andy]

Drill and tap

Quite a project but you may try drilling out the old bolt and then tapping that hole with new threads.

 

[Steve Dion]

soak it with WD and/or liquid wrench

Tim:I would remove everything that may be in the way.Soak the broken stud with WD40 and/or Liquid wrench. There is a tool that mechanics use called an "easy out". You may want to contact someone to do this for you, but you can do it yourself. It allows you to back the bolt out of the block. I am guessing that there was corrosion on the surface and that is where the bolt severed.Be sure that you use some "never-seize" when you replace it. I do not think that the engine needs to be removed to perform this operation.

 

[Paul Akers]

When you get it fixed...

...coat the threads with "Never Sieze" to prevent that from happening again.

 

[Landsend]

drill out the broken bit......

soak the area with liquid wrench, then use a screw extractor to remove the remaining bits.Grease the new bolts so you don't have this problem again. Good luck.Sometimes heat from a torch will also help.