Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Waterpump impeller bits - where do they go?

Water pump on my '97 just blew at 72,000 miles. Pieces of impeller guestimated to total 80% retrieved when pump removed from housing. Pieces were 40%, 20% 10%,5%, crumbs 5%. - MIA 20%.

First part of question is where does MIA go; rad, heater core, thermostat assembly??
Second part is how to get them out since these cooling systems (totally closed) don't seem to lend themselves to normal back flushing. No impeller bits appear to have come out of rad when I drained it, nor the housing when I removed pump. Although I must admit I was looking for "pieces" not "crumbs and dust".

My work is currently under-going a rain/mothers' day delay so any advice received at this time would be appreciated and could be considered for action since patient may not be closed up until tomorrow.

All i know is when mine went out It broke into 3 pretty much perfect peices. I put it all back together and still flushed my system. Sorry that i didnt' help

Thanks for the reply.
Yeh the FAQ shows two neat and clean pieces which is what I expect first happened then 1/2 mushed the other 1/2.
What do you mean when you say "flushed your system"?

The MIA's are still there, or I should say everywhere. With a little bit of luck they will settle to the bottom of the block. They are not likely to do any damage but if it really bothers you, remove the thermostat and backflush, backflush, backflush until you feel comfortable that you got enough of it out. Backflush with a hose in the coolant bottle and the thermostat houshing open to the air so that you float everything you can from the blosck and the radiator. Other than that the only answer is to start tearing things down until you feel that you have cleaned it to your satisfaction. I don't think you really need to do all of this.

Thanks for the seasoned advice Big Jim , I kinda expected that was going to be the answer.

So much for the days when you replaced them 'cause they weeped or squeaked.

my water pump went at 59000 last week and I was wondering the same thing where DO those little pieces of PLASTIC go?

Could go anywhere in the system depending on size.
They will probably settle out in the low spots or the radiator.

Well I ended up finding a 15% fragment wedged behind the "cone" in the wp housing. Was a PITA to get out since housing was in place (i.e. I had not removed any hoses, just the pump). Could see piece with mirror or feel with finger tips, but not both at same time due to lack of access.
Used a bent paper clip to poke and was then able to retrieve.

So my recovery of bits of shattered impeller ended up being 95%.

Most useful tools in re & re of wp from this high-tech engine turned out to be the above paperclip and a coat hanger (to drop pump down and across rear of rad to pass side then down past frame and out).

after having changed out three v6 water pumps on my car lot, i have never found any of the little pieces. do not know where they go but it never has seemed to be a problem. dont worry about it. just watch your gauge carefully for a while to see if it varies any in its operating range.

Dealer502:
Yeh, my concern lessened when I found the last chunk. Will be running water only for a day or two on local trips before draining again and putting in the anti-freeze.

p.s. Send some of that heat up here so I can check guage.