Water Pump Failures

[Peaks]

Yesterday the water pump went on my Vitesse. To be fair it had been weeping for a while, but it has finally given up the ghost.

It has lasted about 15k miles, and the one before that 10k. Maybe I should add that the one that was one the car when I bought it in 1991 survived 18 years of use by me, and for all I know was the one that the car left the factory with, which would mean it lasted about 135k miles. 

Let's assume that I've not over tensioned the fan belt, is this a case of poor quality replacement parts, or am I unlucky? 25 quid for a replacement seems suspiciously cheap to me! 🤔

Are all the pumps from the usual suppliers of the same origin, or are some better than others? 

[johny]

If the engine is left unturned for months this seems to reduce the life of the seal presumibly because it sticks. However look for a recent thread on here which shows a specialist company that overhauls the pump with a modern type seal and guarantees it for life in your ownership....

[Colin Lindsay]

30 minutes ago, Peaks said:

Let's assume that I've not over tensioned the fan belt, is this a case of poor quality replacement parts, or am I unlucky? 25 quid for a replacement seems suspiciously cheap to me! 🤔

Are all the pumps from the usual suppliers of the same origin, or are some better than others? 

Probably all the same, and many are woeful quality that require replacing almost yearly. If you can, get hold of an original one (Not sure how hard the Vitesse ones are to find, the Herald ones are quite common) and have it refurbished.

Here's the thread Johny mentioned:

 

 

[johny]

Yes thats it and EP services say they can do any pump, old, new or anything inbetween and the price is comparable with buying another...

[Iain T]

I have a modified WP for my Vitesse mk2 arriving soon, EP sent it on Thursday. To obtain more clearance from the rad to easily fit a 12" electric fan and still be able to change fan belts they used a modified pulley from a Perkins diesel! They had to bore and ream it to fit on the existing impeller shaft. He said he has reduced the length from the housing flange to the nose to 63/64mm. This should be fine but due to Easter UPS have yet to deliver. I've also made 2 pairs of brackets to mount the fan, I'll take some pics and post. 

In short +1 for EP! 

Send your old one to them and get it refurbed with their bearings etc. 

Iain 

[68vitesse]

Just welded some flat bar with a thread insert to the frame of the radiator for my electric fan, biggest problem was the fan boss on the end of the crankshaft, replaced with a modified shaft collar.

Regards

Paul.

 

[Peaks]

Thanks guys, I'll give EP a ring on Tuesday and let you know how I get on. 

[Badwolf]

Great hear this. Glad that I didn't bin my original leaky water pump. I'm sure it's knocking about in the shed somewhere. Next thing is to find it, get it refurbished and keep it for when the 'modern' replacement gives up the ghost.

[jagnut66]

Hi, 

I had a look for EP services online and found several companies using that name, please could someone post up a link to the correct EP services on here.

Many thanks,

Mike.

[johny]

http://ep-services.co.uk/ this is the one but looks like their site is undergoing maintenance...

[jagnut66]

Thanks, their site appears to be down but this does at least give me a contact number.

Best wishes,

Mike.

[PeteH]

1 hour ago, jagnut66 said:

Thanks, their site appears to be down but this does at least give me a contact number.

Best wishes,

Mike.

Been down since last Oct by the look of it?.

Pete

[Pete Lewis]

and a quick search   https://www.yell.com/biz/e-p-services-wolverhampton-3749368/

Pete

[Iain T]

Mike, give them a ring on the main number it reverts to his mobile if not answered and he always phoned back. Excellent personal service, my modified shortened pump is working fine. 

Iain 

[Peaks]

Just an update on my original query; I sent my pump for overhaul to EP Services and they had it back to me within a week of receiving it. It's working fine now, and all in all, including postage both ways, cost about £90.

Yes you can get pumps for 25 quid plus P&P, but the lifetime warranty, added reliability and longevity have got to be worth the extra cost.

 

[Roger K]

What do you do if the car you've recently bought has a modern replacement pump and it's leaking?

[Clive]

7 hours ago, Roger K said:

What do you do if the car you've recently bought has a modern replacement pump and it's leaking?

Try EP, I expect they can repair/warrant a repro pump. After all, it is most likely the bearings and importantly the seals that are the issue.

I repaired a sprint/TR7 pump with a kit for a specialist. That one was upmarket, and had a ceramic ring that needed the impellor machining and the ring gluing in place. But it means the seal doesn't run on the steel face that could get corrosion. I wonder if EP do something similar.

[johny]

That is exactly what the OP has done and now has a lifetime guarantee on his pump from EP...

[Roger K]

Great, I'll give them a try.

Anybody know if a Vitesse MkII water pump will work in a late GT6 MkIII engine?  Same fit, hopefully?

[johny]

yes all the six non thermostatic fan pumps are the same

[Colin Lindsay]

3 hours ago, Roger K said:

Great, I'll give them a try.

Anybody know if a Vitesse MkII water pump will work in a late GT6 MkIII engine?  Same fit, hopefully?

Yes as Johnny says all the same; you can check by lining up the pulley against the line of the fan belt / crank pulley / alternator - it should be in line. Four-cylinder cars have a different pulley which won't be in line with the pulleys on the bigger engine, so the belt will be twisted at an angle and will come off very quickly.

[Roger K]

So much for that idea... just went to check my spare engine and it has no water pump...