3 failed water pumps in one year!

Tiny
MARIALYCE
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 HONDA DEL SOL
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
In May 2012, after an overheating episode, my trustworthy (I think?) Honda mechanic replaced a leaky water pump and the timing belt. Five months later, it overheated again and the water pump had to be replaced again--this time at the mechanic's expense. He also installed a new radiator. Now, just a little more than a year later (Jan. 2014), my car is again overheating and leaking coolant, and the water pump appears to be the culprit, AGAIN. My Honda mechanic is exasperated and wants to give up on it/me! They were both quality OEM water pumps. Any clues on why my car would be eating water pumps--just bad luck or is something going on to cause the frequent failures?
Sunday, January 5th, 2014 AT 2:57 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Prior to the water pump failing, did you have any problem with overheating or coolant losses?
Which part of the water pump is leaking?
What type of coolant was used?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2014 AT 6:33 AM
Tiny
MARIALYCE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, the car did begin to overheat prior to me bringing it back to the mechanic for service and finding out of the bad water pump. However, I was very careful and it never got into the "red" zone, nor did I drive it any distance after noticing the overheating condition--so as not to damage the engine, etc.

The mechanic just installed the THIRD water pump on the car and I got it back yesterday. He also completely flushed the cooling system, in case maybe something from it was getting into the water pumps. He showed me the part that was leaking--a tiny metal nipple on the unit, which I do not know the name of. The water pump itself still looked super new & shiny.

I used Prestone coolant that I bought at the gas station; I do not know what brand my mechanic used. Any clues on why my Del Sol would be eating water pumps so frequently?
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Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
I can't think of any other logical explanation except for the quality of the pump used. If there are abnormal corrosion on the pump housing etc, that would most likely be due to corrosive coolant used.
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Thursday, January 9th, 2014 AT 6:32 AM

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