Sudden grinding/screeching noise from water pump

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Red Barney

Member
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Hi guys, so when I started her up this morning there was an obvious clunking/scraping/bad noise that wasn't there before. for the past month shes been running perfectly, engine sounded like a dream, started perfectly and ticked over like a good un. I drove her for about 20mins and the noise is still there unchanged. on further inspection it seems to be coming from what I think is the water pump, Ive attached a photo of where the noise appears to be coming from so if its not the water pump please tell me 😂 . I only got her back recently after 6yrs apart and having looked the serpentine belt does seem a bit tight. Having looked at a few threads on here im wondering whether to just loosen the belt a bit (there's hardly any deflection currently) or if its too late for that and the damage has already been done, and I just need to fork out on a new water pump. I just don't want to ease off the belt without knowing that the water pump is ok and shag her even further. She's a '97 300tdi, RHD, no engine mods ( except EGR removed). Cheers folks
 

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Is it not a sprung (auto tensioner?) if so you cant do much about the tension.

As above take off the belt and turn everything by hand, it could be the tensioner making the noise :) .

J
 
You can't 'loosen the serpentine belt' as it has a sprung loaded tensioning pulley at the top of the engine.
@Hicap phill has given you the way to figure out the problem.
To loosen the belt you take a 15mm socket on a long bar, put it on the tensioner pulley and lift, loosening the belt.
Take the belt off and you will find the problem by spinning the pulleys by hand.
 
It is a sprung tensioner from what I remember, but surely I could move the alternator a bit to release some tension.
so okay, when I get home later, remove belt, spin everything by hand and see what sounds like crap..
just to confirm it is the water pump in the photo?
 
pretty sure its not the power steering pump, that's down and left on the 300tdi I believe. also can I post audio on here or is it just photos..
 
Red Barney said:
pretty sure its not the power steering pump, that's down and left on the 300tdi I believe. also can I post audio on here or is it just photos..
Click to expand...
Think you have to host it on YouTube first. Just follow the pipes, it will soon tell you what the item does.
Once the belt is off it could be straightforward to find the problem, hopefully.
Had similar thing on my TD5, once the belt was off it was easy to tell the tensioner was at fault.
 
Last edited:
so just got in and took the belt off and lo and behold the water pump (the one in the photo) has about a good cm of movement back and forth and all around which I presume is not normal, so yeah, looks like a new water pump..

OEM Water Pump and Gasket - OE Supplier - 300TDI - PEB500090G​


was gonna get this from paddocks, is there anything else I need for the job?

Thanks for all your help guys, as always the forums rock 👍
 
Red Barney said:
so just got in and took the belt off and lo and behold the water pump (the one in the photo) has about a good cm of movement back and forth and all around which I presume is not normal, so yeah, looks like a new water pump..

OEM Water Pump and Gasket - OE Supplier - 300TDI - PEB500090G​


was gonna get this from paddocks, is there anything else I need for the job?

Thanks for all your help guys, as always the forums rock 👍
Click to expand...
Don't ask me, I know nothing obviously!
Thank God we're not in the anything goes section as I'll be getting it big time!
Anti-freeze?
 
Red Barney said:
so just got in and took the belt off and lo and behold the water pump (the one in the photo) has about a good cm of movement back and forth and all around which I presume is not normal, so yeah, looks like a new water pump..

OEM Water Pump and Gasket - OE Supplier - 300TDI - PEB500090G​


was gonna get this from paddocks, is there anything else I need for the job?

Thanks for all your help guys, as always the forums rock 👍
Click to expand...
Along with checking hoses and the belt. How does the tensioner feel. You gonna save the coolant or refresh?
Sure the pump would come with a gasket;).

Although they are easy items to get too afterwards and costs can mount up, its your call. But is always easier when you are into it.

Will all the bolts come out?🤔

J
 
Tensioner feels rock solid, spins freely, as does the alternator. Hoses are all good, no overheating issues, so its obviously still working ok the pump for the minute, just sounds like crap. im in France and I need the car so until the paddocks order comes in a week or so ill still need to drive her for short trips, unless you guys think that's a real bad idea:rolleyes: as for the coolant ill see how it looks when it comes out, if it looks dodgy ill replace, and probably the belt too just in case, ill keep the old one as a spare.
and the bolts, as with everything else on a defender, are either gonna be a pleasant surprise or an afternoon of swearing and bloody knuckles....
 
So finally got the old pump off, bloody pulley bolts were a pain in the ars.. but yeah the bearings have obviously got in the old one so problem solved. she's all cleaned up and ready now for the new part 2moro 👍
 

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