First of all I have done the search
Cooling System: but I do not quite get a straight forward instruction for the water pump repair.
The car is a 1983 300D NOT a California model.
Please also be easy on me as I just started doing a lot of bigger repairs myself. I can comprehend but just a newbie wrench who did not have cars growing up. My experience on this car are, replacing the fuel lines, transmission filter. oil and fuel filters, brake caliper replacement.
After being quoted 3-5 hours to replace this pump, I would like to do it myself.
I am loosing coolant and it is getting worse. There are no rips in the hoses leading in and out of the radiator or thermostat hosuing or coolant coming out of reservoir. The symptom is that the lip of the oil pan cover seemss to be weeping coolant but then it is really from coolant coming from the top. From what I've read that could be either the water pump gasket or the weep hole but I cannot visually inspect those.
Is there any other hose that I could inspect before assuming it is really the water pump
Here are the steps as I understand
1. Drain the engine coolant. That seems easy anything I should be aware of?
2. Remove the radiator necessary or not? If yes what to watch out for regarding the oil cooler brackets? How delicate is the plastic?
3. Remove the fans - does my engine need the grounded box wrenches?
4. How do I remove the belts. Does everything come off.
5. Pulley, Do I need a special tool to extract it. I heard discussions about a fan clutch. Does my engine even have one?
6. I am reading various post on the difficulty on removing the pump itself. There were some post on dremelling something that obstruct tools.
7. Once the pump is out, should I just replace it? I am still getting heat and the car runs at about 100 F or less, so maybe my impeller is good? My coolant loss is about 1/2 - 1 cup after driving and taking the temp up. Initial starting or refilling the reservoir does not equal to coolant leaking only at temperature above 60 F. I also get more of the leak when I have filled the reservoir.
A link to the pictures or illustrations would really be helpful.
I apologize for being dumb about this but I have never replaced a waterpump before. I may also NOT be searching properly.
Thanks