Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 - Water Pump Replacement 

I, for one, prefer those long, unexpected glitch, repair videos. It shows the real life situations, and the solutions to those issues, that arise when making repairs! It's the real life versions that make thing interesting! No one wants to see a rotate the tires video. They want to see the two stripped out nuts, and the three broken off studs, and the wheel won't come off of the hub videos, while doing a tire rotation, that we want to see. Thanks again for another great movie!!

I've seen many cars go over 200k but never one as neglected as this one. I have to say I'm impressed at its ability to keep going. Kudos to Pontiac.

I just want to add something EXTREMELY valuable to this job if you’re going to tackle it yourself- YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP! Removing it is easy, putting it back on and lining the bolts up is a royal PITA. All you need to do is loosen the two bolts thru the holes on the pulley enough to slide the unit out which is still hanging on the bolts enough to clear the bolt you’re removing on the water pump. Then when you’re done, all you need to do is retighten the power steering pump bolts. They will still be in the threads. Can’t believe this mechanic didn’t catch this. I think he’s too focused on using his power ratchet to notice things such as this. Anyways, this will shorten your job and your neighbors won’t have to hear you curse anymore.

Can't thank you enough. Just changed out the water pump on my 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix . Had overheating problems and no heat and this fixed both. Video made it super easy...well...as easy as as it could be for a guy that's never changed out a water pump before. You've earned another new subscriber. Thanks so much for posting these videos!

This is the first time I saw a mechanic go such extra length to clean that nasty radiator. Any other shop would say radiator is no good and won't even bother, just add extra labor and parts to install a new radiator to the bill. Old school! Subscribed!

I just want to know how you could not bust out laughing when you stuck the screwdriver into the radiator. My dad and I laughed so hard that our sides were hurting. It was the most entertaining mechanic video I have ever watched on youtube.

Because of Dex-cool I was able to buy a house and most the tools in my box. Thank you GM for job security!

Thanks for taking the time to record and post this. This gave me the confidence that I had diagnosed the problem properly, and that the repair wasn't too unreasonable. You're about to save a single mom some $$$.

Had to replace the water pump in my son’s 2007 Grand Prix (soon to be mine) today. Changing out the pump literally took me a half hour after watching your video. Even taking out the power steering pump and putting it back in wasn’t too hard. It was just getting the cooling system bled out that was a pain in the butt. The belt went out on this thing literally two days before the pump did and there was no play in the bearing. Today when I pulled it out there was a tremendous amount of play and leakage. Thank you for this video

I have a 2008 that did that! Old mechanic said it was the coolant from factory mixing with air(leak) in system!

this is literally the best tutorial ive seen for this yet.

This is by FAR my favorite video. The look on your face Eric when you first start blasting the radiator is priceless !

I've been in the motor trade a long time and also watch a lot of RU-vid Tech's, but I've got to say you are the best I've seen. Nothing phases you, you just get on and do any job without drama. Keep up the great work. We could do with a few like you in the UK.

That is odd, I did not get to experience the dex cool fail. however my 32 yr old Buick park avenue had a small leak in the radiator a few yrs back, we replace it with a new aluminum one, no problems since. I am happy some folks think a particular brand of car is more job security than another, when in fact they all need proper maintenance! Sometimes one area is saturated with a higher number of one brand more than another. Think about it. thank you for another top-notch video!

The water pump doesn't make any noise no matter how bad the bearing is if the radio is louder than the pump !!!!!

Thanks for uploading this, I'm just a poor boy who can't afford many tools let alone take my car in, I feel a lot better about doing this repair myself now

For whatever strange reason this is probably one of your most satisfying videos to watch. Great job!

The GM 3.8L Series II and III 3800 V6 engine might be one the best engines GM has ever made. As long as you changed the oil and didn't let them overheat, they would keep on running.

I watch your smooth skills,your no joke im 63 and just a street machanic and I watch your vidios as much as possible, thank you SAM

It takes long time for that coolant to 'go to clay'. "Clay" (at various states of solidification) kept that guys engine from overheating and seizing. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am impressed!!

"Aw, man, this is so extreme!" Wow! Best video ever! I want more 'extreme flushing' videos!

Impressive! I have to do the same thing on my 07 Grand Prix (minus the extreme flushing!). 207k miles on mine. Thanks a million!

Always replace the 2 plastic elbows in the alternator bracket when doing this job. buy the Dorman (amazingly they are your best option) metal ones.

I just want to say "Gracias Amigo", Thank you my friend. Your video helped me replace the water pump on my mother's 06 Grand Prix with ease. It was not as bad once I got in to it. Coolant and Radiator in her car were not as bad as this car. Did have a little bit but not crazy like the one used on this video.

I just bought a 04 grandprix gt with 212 and I'm in love with it that engine is dam near bullet proof

thanks for this video, it was very helpful. I kinda laughed when you saw the bolt under the power steering pulley cause it happened to me. thought I had to remove the pulley, but learned about the two bolts through the pulley on this video. Thank you. -Gabe

It was so good I watched it again and I’m running out of SMA videos. I customer would never lie about hearing or adding liquid wrench to fix a leak never.

I have seen some unmaintained vehicles in my day but dam. That takes the cake. Another great video. Thank you again sir. Jim

I'm impressed you did this without a single swear word.

I learned one thing, don't let your car go to long between the time it needs to get serviced or your radiator will turn into a rock hard mess. With that said, I'm glad I found your page because I've got a huge job ahead of me, good luck on your other videos, I'm subscribing to your channel, you have a new fan peace out ✌️✌️👍

Dex-Cool and cavitation.. Flush your cooling systems ppl. Go with the good stuff, go green. Also that flush tool, and vacuum tool I need that in my life. I have 2 grand prixs an 01 GTP and an 06 GT both supercharged, I did both intake manifolds, water pump, plugs and wires on these and they're pretty simple. BTW you should have took out the thermostat. In this vid ur only flushing the lower rad hose pretty much.

Hey Eric O, just this last week started watchin’ your channel, nice to witness another real ‘motor engineer’ at work. You mentioned a chemical solution to the flush issue on that cooling system. Over here in Scotland I remember using just that 45 years ago. I worked in a military workshop but as a civilian and at that time we had Bedford 4 Ton trucks powered with a 300 cubic inch straight 6 petrol engine (it was quite possibly of GM origin). Well they were really bad for the cooling system gunging up similar to your Pontiac. Our method was to add a good handful of ‘Citric Acid BP’ crystals to the top of the radiator, top up with water and run for 10 minutes after reaching the normal working temperature. On reverse flushing with clean water until the water ran clean from the radiator top, we then neutralised any residual citric acid solution in the system by adding Lisipol (dunno what the modern equivalent of that product would be but anyhow it was a mild alkaline soap) and running for a further 10 minutes after reaching normal working temperature. Anyway, that process worked really well the inside of the radiator shone like they were brand new brass tanks. Sorry for the very tardy post, as I said I’ve just started watching your channel. Really enjoying it, will take me a wee while to catch up to your current offerings but I’ll get there🙂. Thanks, keep on turning those spanners, oh and watch your fingers👍🏻. Wullie

I've heard of a case like this somebody mixed the wrong antifreeze with dex-cool and it turned to mud and looked exactly like this, I saw the old parts. They flushed the block much like you did replace the water pump, radiator and I think they ended up replacing the heater core too. They also chemical flushed it several times after assembly until it ran clear. It was a costly job but the mechanic showed the people that owned the car what it looked like and told them this was the only way he recommended to help prevent another breakdown or more damage that would keep costing them money.

OMY...you found the pomtiac video that made me fall in love with your channel and made me almost go to the hospital from LAUGHING so hard.. Thank You

I have a cabin in Northern Georgia, we are on a well,I regularly change the pump filter every 30 days and the filter looks like the crud in this Pontiac, also I am originally from Upstate NY and worked for NY Telephone in 1972 I was assigned to Elmira NY after Hurricane Irene. The mud in this Grand Prix looks like it came from the Chemung River....Love your Vids and sense of humor ,reminds me of Home!!!!.

I absolutely LOVE your vids, man!! I watch them very day!!! I wish we could clone u and put u in every shop in america!!! A good, knowledgeable, honest mechanic that can assess the problem, fix it or recommend the best course of action!!! A lot of dealerships cant even do that!!!!! Keep up the great work!! @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC

Auto repair and comedy channel all in one!

When I bought my 3.8 Bonneville the first thing I did was flush the dex cool out and filled it with green..no sludge yet at 230K

Thank you for uploading so that when I go to do the job on my 08 Lucerne, I don't have to go through the aggravation you went through!

I got a grand prix that recently, within the last few minutes, had a water pump spray all I've rmy belt and engine. Firstz thanks for the video! 😅 That looks like a stop leak in that radiator. I did a coolant flush about a year ago and found out my car had some stop leak running through my car, except my looks like tapioca pearls... 🤦🏻‍♂️

another great job and video eric . it's amazing that pig didn't overheat. i'm not a mechanic but i sure love your videos.some of the best on youtube. keep up the good work.

If the first can of stop-leak don't work, put in a case!

Great video, man! It made me want to go out and hug my vehicle for having a clean cooling system. :)

I LOVE this video! Thanks Eric for bringing us along for the ride. I have major envy of those air ratchets you have. I don’t do enough work on the family cars to “justify” the price but keep wishing for one at Christmas. I can relate to getting wet and messy doing coolant flushes. Thanks again.

That was great! That was for all the people who say it doesn't matter about the coolant colour, just chuck anything in! I suspect it was a combination of that a about 14 gallons of leak stop. I am surprised they didn't bring the car back complaining that the temperature needle had never sat so low before. Great job as usual Mr.O. I love to see how you work with your tools, I always learn something. You have to be commercially viable but you always try to be consciencous and proffesional. All I would have added was the classic, "Well there's your problem!" When you took off the radiator cap. I think you where in so much shock it escaped you.

Kudos to you Eric O. Great video! If these customers only knew the half of it!

I'm surprised that car didn't overheat! P.S. That was a 1000 USD Flush and agreed, 2000 for the finger cut!

Fortunately the 3.8 V6 in the 4th gen Camaro doesn't require you to move the power steering pump as their is adequate room. You are one of the few doing this job that mention using thread sealant on the long bolts which is important, but it really is a pain to remove them later/next time.

Dex-Cool is a wonderful sealant, now that you flushed it out the radiator tanks will leak next! I tried this method 15 years ago and gave up, too many come backs...for other coolant leaks! GM did pay for my Tech 2, and my custom house on the Guadalupe River in Texas thanks to so many repairs, on GM cars and trucks, my favorite car brand to work on...PS, Eric, I now own 3 Jeeps, a 1999 Cherokee, a 2002 Wrangler and a 2010 Grand Cherokee hemi. All run like new with no dealer service, ever! Thank you, GM!

Very helpful. Replacement of the water pump went smooth! Coolant no longer leaks from there! Sadly it is still leaking from somewhere else :(

This one is my favorite video. I'm all about maintaining my cars

Hahaha! Wow that's solid! That system hasn't been flushed since 1902. I'm only 1/3 of the way in this video, but looking forward to see how this ends...

People will still say dex sludge is a myth. A Oxalic Acid flush and switching to green will solve all issues. The Dex Cool does not like non pressurized overflow coolant tanks.

I do not use dex cool because of what you showed. I use the green stuff. Good job sir!!

Dexcool always does that. I always flush out my GM's and use the green. Works every time.

Something tells me that you just flushed out the only stuff holding that engine together...🤔...😂😂😂

That's what happens to Dex Cool, it turns to acidic sludge.

Just watch this video the other day to see how hard it would be. Right after the video I replaced a water pump on a 04 grand pix and with your video it was pretty easy. Thanks for the good information

Honestly, I think that you are the most patient and merciful auto mechanic alife. Anyone else would charge this guy extra $$$$$ for a new radiator and extra labor. Dude you are amazing!!!!

That’s the best laugh I’ve had while watching you doing your best with that a car like that.....Wow

I would have loved to have seen the conversation you had with that customer when he came to pick up his car.

Hey Eric O, is that GM 3.8 bullet proof or what!!?? "Play-Doh" in the coolant lines and not have that engine overheat and seize up? I am dumbfounded!

How could that car still run at all with the radiator completely plugged like that. The heater still worked? I find that hard to believe. Best coolant system video I've seen.

I know this is an old video but thank you for sharing this and not skipping anything important I was able to get mine finished in my driveway.

Well that is either a complete lower intake failure or a dex/ethylene glycol mix. Sludge happens when DEXKILL ( Dexcool oops ) gets mixed with glycol coolant. Those coolants have a bunch of dissolved silicates ( sand) that basically turns to concrete when it gets hot and sludged. I have owned 4 3.8L motors and that is the first job I do. New lower intake gaskets and flush and swap the dex for green. Also, you and your wife are just like me and mine. Our relationship revolves around lovingly giving each other a ton of crap. Made me smile. Thanks for the vids! Where can we get some South Main T-shirts??

Gives new meaning to the phrase "Blow chunks".

New technology! Solid coolant.

I'm surprised that it actually kept running with all that sludge in the cooling system I wish that you were my local repair shop over here in the north-west of England. I used to do all of my own 'spannering' on cars and motorbikes. But now I am old and grey, with a dodgy hip, I have to rely on local repair shops to do that for me. I have yet to find somebody who will do a proper job, without ripping me off. I run a 2010 Ford Focus 1.6 petrol with 40k miles. Because of the age of the vehicle, the timing belt needs to be replaced. Ford recommend changing the water pump at the same time. The quotation from my Ford main dealer for the work was £757.00 ($972.00). Ripoff. Thank you for all your video's, they are very well shot and informative. Well done for including your lovely family and, I'm assuming, your young lady trainee. Keep on making the video's, I'm sure that many people will continue to keep watching them. Best wishes from across the pond.

I didn’t look at the length of the video. Just the title. Thought it’d be a quick water pump.... then I saw you pull off the radiator cap. Now I know it’s gonna be a good long one. 👍🏼

G’day Eric and Mrs “ O “ and greetings from Tasmania Australia, I was subscribed a long time ago and I don’t really know why I stopped it must be my age 63. I couldn’t believe it when you took that radiator cap off, unbelievable how some people treat there cars it’s surprising that the bloody thing didn’t overheat and I can’t understand the engineering that went into that motor, what a pain the ass I hope that you charge them for all the other work you put into it. Anyway It’s great to watch your videos they are very interesting and with your sense of humour makes. It great to watch, I can’t work on my car anymore as I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and two bloody new knees so it’s great to watch you I have subscribed and look forward to your next videos, kind regards John

It's a good thing you bought a tripod. If Mrs O had to hold the camera for this job, I don't think she would have been happy if you splashed her with that mud stuff.

Oh how I hate yuk coolant. I just flush the heck out of it and tell them to come back in a month and do it again...they never do. Nice video buddy.

Wow at the clay in the radiator behind the cap

And here I am .. afraid of using water to clean my engine.. 😅 Great work! As usual! I bought a fixer upper Ford transit connect and thought I’d learn how to work on it.. and been addicted to your channel from then on! Thanks for sharing you and your family! If you’re ever in Norway let me know! I’d love to buy you a beer! 😎🍻

Man, your eatin lunch like every day

intake leaking -> "MY HEADGASKETS!!" -> sealer tabs + dexcool = welcome to the new death

That look on your face from the initial blast is priceless!

Got to get me one of those DeWalt lights that you used as I have the 20V battery packs for other DeWalt tools.

That is is the direct result of Dex-Cool, one of the greatest chemical engineering blunders in automotive history

It's old Dexcool exposed to heat and air. Makes mud like that. Usually coats the surge tank.

The temp gauge couldn't say it was hot since there was no coolant to get a temp from haha. I don't know how this engine didn't overheat or blow a head gasket. Never seen anything like it. I (think) I still have the original dex-cool in my truck and it is still liquid and orange. Maybe a few hundred cans of brake cleaner would have dissolved the clay. Probably be better off with a 55 gallon drum of brake cleaner on a recirculation pump. Owner most likely won't put the money in it when they get home. Needs a lot of parts to do it right. I just don't get how someone can neglect to do vehicle maintenance. That water pump just *had* to be screaming bloody murder! I don't see (or hear rather) how it could not have been. Ignorance is bliss I guess. Business for you = money for tools to show off ha. :)

It looks like they just filled the whole thing with stop leak. That's completely insane. You should do a "best of" video. Put stuff like this, and that nasty mouse infested blower on there.

That is the dirtiest internal radiator/cooling system that I have EVER seen in my years of wrenching! I sure hope you showed the owner and they let you do a flush and fill. If it were mine I would have the radiator rodded out. Great job, as usual!

You do a great job as always. People that drive cars to this point without maintenance don't deserve a car. Tell the owner , yeah, I said it.

Omg omg!!! I'm doing a coolant flush this weekend!!! I dont care if I need it....I'm just gunna do it...bleg!!!

I hope you made the owner of the car watch this video.

Love your channel, keep up the good work!!!

Since I'm a new subscriber went back through and watched all of Mr. O's vids. Thought my "very well" (BS) maintained '97 F-150, according so seller was bad, until I saw the muck in this one. I changed all the fluids in the truck and got what looked like Dairy Queen hot chocolate syrup out of the radiator, McDonald's rancid french fry grease out of both axles, some kind of brown friggin' mess out of the transfer case, and black Texas crude out of the trans!

That heater core cleaner device you have is insanely nifty! I definitely have to pick one of those up

I wonder what other issues this car has, if the coolant looked like that. I'm afraid to think about oil, brake fluid and other stuff...

I think you would have had a valid Worker's Compensation claim here for psychological duress. That would have drove me off the edge.

Love my 3800, nothing can kill it. Yeah, that one bolt that's behind the power steering pump is a PITA. Really isn't so bad since you don't have to disconnect the pump you simple have to move it out of the way so no hoses are involved. Welcome to the world of DEX-COOL. I was really hoping you'd change the radiator. I'd love to see a Grand Prix radiator change video. Question, couldn't you have installed a Prestone reverse flushing tee into the heater hose and done the reverse flush that way. Would have been a lot less DRAMA.

Hello, I know this video is older but I have a question for you and I’d like your professional opinion. I have a 96 LeSabre with the 3.8. I’m replacing the coolant elbows…actually just one because one is incorporated in the tensioner bracket. I’m replacing the one with the aluminum elbow and actually installing a new tensioner bracket because I couldn’t find much if any info on the o ring needed for the elbow tube that is incorporated on the bracket. Should I use a water pump/thermostat gasket sealer around these o rings? Any advice would be appreciated. I replaced my water pump and that p/s pump bottom bolt about did me in!!! I’m hoping I don’t do this again anytime soon. Great video!!!

I have an '05 Pontiac Grand Prix and it's had cooling issues ever since I bought it back in March (it's mid July now). That coolant in my car and my coolant cap looked somewhat like that, I flushed most of the cooling system out (except for the engine block, I am not too knowledged on that) but it still overheats, the last owner treated that car terribly. It has 261k miles on it. It is crazy how much shit that 3.8 has been through.

nice video..ever do a water pump on a Lexus RX350? That is the mother of all water pump jobs..makes those GM engineers look smart.

I've watched a great many of your videos and seen some wacky stuff, but so far, nothing compares to this. How does a cooling system get so packed full of goo?

The owner must be a computer enthusiast because he filled his engine with thermal paste.

I remember the days when you used to buy a kit to overhaul waterpumps ,bearing ,gland seal ect.same with brake parts master and slave cylinders.now you have to replace the whole unit.lol ,a nostalgic moment.

When I was younger I had a 95 Corsica and I blew up the 3.1 that was in it, So a few friends and I ended up figuring out a way to drop in a 3.8 super charged into the thing. Took some time, but we got it going, I drove it around for a couple of years and I went threw 2 water pumps, both times I lost the belt somewhere down the road. Its like them 3.8s just hate belts when the water pump goes bad, at least mine did.

I notice a common theme in the comments is that people are blaming Dexcool for this issue. Dexcool is not the issue. Lack of maintenance is the real issue. If service recommendations are followed, this issue most likely will not happen. I laugh when people blame the car for being junk when they never bothered to read the service intervals. Every manufacture states coolant has a life span and must be changed at regular intervals. Maintain your car and it will last, ignore it and you wallet will hurt. Coolant is cheap, engines are expensive.